SmartKentucky^SM

Preparing Kentucky students for well-paying jobs in manufacturing.

SmartKentucky^SM is all about education, education, education! Kentucky has one of the lowest high school graduation rates in America. Students who do graduate often can’t do basic math or solve problems in teams. A significant number of Kentucky’s freshmen never graduate from college.

This all adds up to a big challenge for Kentucky manufacturers who need to fill good jobs with qualified workers. That’s why KAM is working hard with Kentucky education leaders to better prepare students for jobs in manufacturing.

But we’re also addressing the issue ourselves by partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. By matching manufacturing worker mentors with kids on waiting lists, high school graduation rates and math scores go up dramatically. SmartKentucky^SM will really make a difference in filling the pipeline with qualified applicants for future manufacturing jobs.

SmartKentucky^SM prepares Kentucky students and adults for well-paying jobs in manufacturing.

• Workforce Development
  
• Work with secondary and higher education to develop improved skills required by more advanced/higher technology manufacturing processes.
  
• Gain state adoption of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Assessment (or its equivalent) to develop a better-prepared workforce for manufacturing jobs.
  
• Education
  
• Partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies to match manufacturing workers with public and private school students to improve math and science scores and increase graduation rates.
  
• Partner with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to ensure young people entering the workforce are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in a manufacturing environment.

Sponsors/Partners

Toyota Manufacturing Georgetown

Toyota's commitment to a world class, quality automobile is entrenched in the entire manufacturing philosophy. From the development stages to manufacturing a product, the quest for superior quality is evident. The cornerstone of Toyota's quality control system is the role of the team members in the production process. The principles on which Toyota was founded are employed at the Georgetown plant. For more information, visit www.toyotageorgetown.com.

Kentucky Council on Economic Education

The Kentucky Council on Economic Education (KCEE) and its statewide network of Centers have provided economic education for Kentucky teachers in their classrooms since 1974. KCEE is planting the seeds of economic and financial literacy by helping schools (K-16) to integrate the teaching of economics and personal finance across the curriculum and preparing students to become effective workers, wise consumers, savers, investors, voting citizens, and participants in a global society. For more information, visit www.win.net/econky.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. We have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children, ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country - including yours. For more information, visit www.bbbs.org.