About The Program

Job Shadow is an academically motivating activity designed to give kids the unique opportunity of an up-close look at the world of work and provide the answer to the commonly asked question, “Why do I have to learn this?” Beginning with a nationwide kickoff on February 2, 2009, and continuing throughout the school year, students across America will “shadow” workplace mentors as they go through a normal day on the job. The program invites students to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace. Job Shadow 2009 is led by the National Job Shadow Coalition.

• Click here to read the latest Job Shadow newsletter containing the most up-to-date program information

Job Shadow Coalition Members

The National Job Shadow Coalition encourages young people across the country to explore their futures through career awareness and mentoring opportunities. Formed in 1998, the coalition includes America’s Promise, Junior Achievement, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor. The national title sponsors are AT&T and the Best Buy Children’s Foundation. Other sponsors include AT&T; Cisco; the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

About JA Worldwide® (Junior Achievement)

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 138 individual area operations reach 4.2 million students in the United States, with an additional 4.3 million students served by operations in 118 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

America’s Promise

America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership alliance comprised of corporations, nonprofit organizations, foundations, policymakers, advocacy and faith groups committed to ensuring that children receive the fundamental resources - the Five Promises - they need to lead successful, healthy and productive lives and build a stronger society. Building on the legacy of our founder General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes the success of our children is grounded in experiencing the Five Promises - caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others—at home, in school and in the community. For more information about America’s Promise Alliance visit www.americaspromise.org.

The Five Promises:

• Ongoing relationships with caring adults;
• Safe places with structured activities during non-school hours;
• Healthy start and future;
• Marketable skills through effective education; and
• Opportunities to give back through community service.

AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2007, AT&T contributed more than $164 million through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T and the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T, combine more than $1.9 billion of historic charitable commitment to communities across the country.

Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. This area offers information about the history, mission and structure of ACTE, as well as details on our annual awards program.

United States Department of Education

The Department of Education was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. The Department of Education’s 4,500 employees and $71.5 billion budget are dedicated to:

• Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
• Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
• Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
• Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

United States Department of Labor

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) overall mission is to foster and promote the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions; advancing their opportunities for profitable employment; protecting their retirement and health care benefits; helping employers find workers; strengthening free collective bargaining; and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. Within the DOL, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) contributes to the more efficient functioning of the U.S. labor market by providing high quality job training, employment, labor market information, and income maintenance services primarily through state and local workforce development systems. Many of ETA’s major programs and services serve youth, including Job Corps and the Workforce Investment Act formula and grant programs.