Achieving Potiental
The Achieving Potential focus area identified the following issues that need to be addressed by the community:
Insure school readiness
Early intervention and preschool programs are critical. This issue area has a focus on children 0 - 5. See pages 61, 63, 109, 110, 111, 112, 116, 117, 118.
Develop family responsibility
The family unit must take responsibility for issues affecting their families. This area has a focus on providing education on personal accountability. Children’s success depends on how parents view education. See pages 109, 111, 112, 116.
Achieve academic success
The schools in conjunction with their communities must work to increase graduation rates and decrease drop out rates. We should develop a specific goal to have our graduation rates increase by a certain percentage and have goals over the next 10 years. See pages 58, 65, 66, 69.
Overcome cultural obstacles
Hispanic and cultural diversity issues are affecting the education of our youth. There is a large disparity in Weld County between the Anglo graduation and dropout rates and Hispanic graduation and dropout rates. All must improve. Fifty percent of Hispanic kids are dropping out and this needs to be addressed. Cultural and racial issues were strongly identified in the needs assessment data. We need to develop strategies to address the prejudice and discrimination that exist in our communities. See pages 60, 67, 69, 114, 115, 119.
Develop job skills
We need to provide affordable means for our youth to attend higher education and vocational training so that families can be more self-sufficient. Job training opportunities need to be readily available. See pages 50, 51, 53, 54, 58, 61.
Improve workforce preparedness
Education effects earning potential with higher education bringing higher paying jobs. Weld County families are at risk of not being able to provide for basic needs due to their limited education which effects earning potential. Weld County also won’t attract businesses that pay higher wages if we do not have an educated workforce. See pages 48, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59.
Facilitate lifelong learning
We need to promote and help make available adult education and non-traditional educational opportunities for our community members. See pages 63, 68.