Vision: All students in Washoe County will have access to a seamless education system which prepares them for life long learning, civic responsibility, and the ever-changing world of work through partnerships with educators, parents, business, and the community.

Mission: The mission of the Washoe K-16 Council is to provide leadership and advocacy, through collaboration with all stakeholders, to maximize high quality, life-long learning experiences for all students.

Background: The Washoe K-16 Council is based on shared responsibility of the community, business and educational institutions serving all students K-16. The Partnership consists of Washoe K-16 Council members such as: the Forum for a Common Agenda (CEO’s of area business and industry), local chambers of Commerce, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, Job Opportunities of Nevada, Washoe county School District, Truckee Meadows Community College, University of Nevada, Reno, Partners in Education, Inc., Network for Employment and Training, and the other state/local governmental and private sector organizations interested in a prepared work force (see attached Washoe K-16 Council).

Students are the focus of the decisions and programs supported by the Council. Business and community leaders recognize that sustaining a healthy economy is dependent upon the skill and abilities of our future workforce. Preparing youth for the changing needs of communities and business is a complex task. It requires the coordinated articulation of all levels of education: elementary, secondary, post-secondary.

Initiatives: The Washoe K-16 Council evolved from several initiatives to improve education and involve all members of the community in creating the systemic changes needed to prepare our children for the next century. The vision for involving business, industry and the community started in the Washoe county area in 1987, with the establishment of Partners in Education, Inc., a nonprofit organization designed to facilitate business involvement with Washoe County School District programs for K-12. The Washoe K-16 Council was initiated at a University of Nevada, Reno Leadership Forum involving representatives from the Washoe County School District, University of Nevada, Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College, business and labor organizations, employment and training agencies, state and local government.

The Leadership Forum identified the need for a vehicle to connect community members, businesses, education, and various educational programs across the continuum of kindergarten through higher education. The Washoe K-16 Council was established to provide linkage among representatives from all facets of the community to support the goals of education and career preparation and workforce development. The Council developed a board of Directors and Steering Committee. Working committees were then established to address key components of the mission of the Council: curriculum standards, assessment and accountability, School-to-Careers (Career Link), support systems such as Family resource Centers, and marketing and community relations.

In January 1996, the Washoe K-16 Council was funded to implement a Schools-to-Careers program involving education (K-16), business, industry and community members. A School-to-Careers Coordinator was hired, and the Council’s focus turned to strengthening the School-to-Careers partnership and programs. Council Board and Steering Committee members, as well as business and community volunteers, worked with educators to develop an implementation plan. Broader components of the Washoe K-16 Council’s were temporarily put on hold. The Washoe K-16 Council participated in a retreat in November 1996, to assess its progress and discuss future goals. Members identified the need for a Washoe K-16 Council executive director who would oversee all aspects of Council activities.

State, federal, local, and private funding will support collaborative efforts of the Washoe K-16 Council to promote meaningful curriculum, career preparation, accountability for all students, along with professional development for all stakeholders. The Career Opportunity centers are an example of the integrated approach used by the Washoe K-16 Council to link classroom learning career preparation, and workforce development for all students and families.