Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce began building partnerships in 1990 to support school reform and renewal by creating the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business-Education Partnership (VCCBEP). It's roots began with a federal grant that brought businesses and educators together to create partnerships that would broaden and enhance student's classroom learning. After grant funding ended, the Chamber of Commerce embraced the belief that business and education partnerships were fundamental to the future of Vermont's economy and business community. Through in-kind support, fee-for-service and private funding from Chamber of Commerce members, VCCBEP has continued its work for over a decade and currently continues to grow and evolve.

It is VCCBEP's core belief that employers and educators share the responsibility in preparing learners for success in their workplace and community, which in turn ensures a strong, healthy economy in Vermont. This result is achieved with the assistance of over 1,600 VCCBEP members who support workforce development and education through job shadowing, mentoring, work-based learning opportunities, internships and apprenticeships.

Promote best practices in employer/educator/learner partnerships

Convene Classroom-to-Careers Conference for 450 participants

Convene The Missing Link: Partnerships for a new millennium

Co-Sponsored Ground Hog Day, wrote manual and provided technical assistance

Sponsored annual Mentors Make A Difference conference 1998,1999,2000,2001

Co-authored School-to-Work learning manual

Featured on national television with Secretary of Education Richard Riley

Presentations at local, state and national conferences including National Alliance of Business and National Association of Partners in Education

Received Business Coalition of the Year Award from National Alliance of Business-1999

Increase employer/educator/learner partnerships

Develop survey and database of employer partners

Participate in career and job fairs throughout the state (6 per year)

Assist in matching businesses and schools by utilizing employer participation survey

Participate in VT Business and Industry Expo

Participate in conferences including NEA convention, school boards and principals' conferences

Lead partner for School-to-Work in Vermont, provided technical assistance to 14 regional partnerships

Assisted in planning Governor's Prevention Conference 1997,1998,2000

Lead for Vermont's Promise

Advisory Board for REAL

Advisory Board for Vermont Employer Internship Program

Business Representative for development of VT School Quality Standards

Enhance Mentoring development and expansion throughout VT

Plan and promote Mentors Make a Difference Conference 1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002

Develops a mentor program database and state resource website

Assist local mentor programs in developing regional networks/partnerships

Trained over 2,000 mentors and created 150 mentor programs throughout VT

Recognized by National Mentoring Partnership

Promotion and participation in national mentoring month

January 2002 Governor's Proclamation for national mentoring month

Develop Quality Assurance Certification for mentor programs

Develop e-mentoring program model and training materials

Develop training materials for developing and enhancing safe and sustainable mentor programs

Develop mentor needs assessment survey

Develop standardized evaluation tools for mentoring programs

Promote skills standards partnership model

Partner with Vermont Construction Careers Council to develop a skill standards model around an industry cluster

Present VC3 as a model for replication statewide