Web Sites: Organization Sites

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
Boston College Carroll School of Management
A membership-based research organization that offers resources and tools to businesses on issues related to corporate citizenship, including practice briefs, case studies, a community involvement index, and a measurement system for benchmarking corporate philanthropy. Also produces A State of Corporate Citizenship, an annual publication summarizing survey responses from business leaders about their views on giving.

Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE) Online
Ohio State University
CETE directs research studies, policy analyses, and program evaluations to expand the fields of vocational education and training and workforce development. Sample resources include curriculum, professional development, and assessment materials, an extensive vocational education library system, and a comprehensive publications list.

Committee for Economic Development (CED)
Nonpartisan consortium of business and economic leaders conducts policy research on critical economic and social issues to influence policy implementation and to serve as a voice for the business community. CED's workforce policy project researches and produces publications on a variety of workforce issues, including welfare reform and the labor market, opportunities for older workers, and the effect of immigration on the workforce.

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)
Nonprofit organization working for better access to education for adults by partnering with business, government, labor, and higher education. Offers technical assistance and applied research and evaluation.

Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Aids state and local chambers in their effort to become leaders of workforce development. ICW works to educate and inform state and local chambers about issues such as the Workforce Investment Act, workplace literacy, school-to-work, and employment of individuals with disabilities. Also develops tools and reports, including A Chamber Guide to Improving Literacy: Higher Skills, Bottom-Line Results, assessments and training for its National Work Readiness Credential, and the Online Navigator, which links businesses and educators to workforce training resources and industry credentials.

Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC)
Nonprofit research organization focuses on improving policies that affect low-income individuals. Current projects focus on welfare reform, education, employment, and community initiatives.

National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult (NCWD/Adult)
To increase access to the workforce development system for adults with disabilities, NCWD/Adult offers workforce and disability professionals research, email alerts, training and technical assistance opportunities, and policy analysis on topics such as disabilities, accommodations, assistive technology, legal requirements and guidelines, partnerships, funding, and marketing and outreach. Also posts vignettes on individual and organizational success stories.

National Workforce Readiness Council
Oversees the National Workforce Readiness Credential, a web-based assessment for entry-level employees that measures "value-creating relationship" skills, such as situational judgment, oral language, reading with understanding, and using math to solve problems based on real-world scenarios. Contains resources relevant to employers and employees, as well as case studies on topics related to customer service.

NGA Center for Best Practices: Workforce Development
Emphasis is on state workforce development system reform, implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and development of workforce education standards. Especially highlights private-sector involvement and partnerships that link various education levels with businesses and other groups concerned with economic development.

Public/Private Ventures
National nonprofit action-based research and public policy organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness of social policies, programs and community initiatives. Focuses primarily on youth and young adults. Publications cover a variety of topics including workforce development, working ventures and faith-based initiatives.

ScorecardforSkills.com
The Conference Board, developed for the U.S. Department of Education
Applies the balanced scorecard approach, a performance measurement system, to workplace education. Site offers employers and educators surveys, checklists, worksheets, assessment and evaluation tools, and other resources to help them measure and document the effectiveness of their workplace education programs.

The Work-Based Learning Project
The Conference Board, developed for the U.S. Department of Education
Compiles research, return on investment (ROI) results, and other helpful resources for companies to use in making the case for adopting workplace education programs. Includes examples of promising practices from companies that have addressed business needs through workplace learning, and offers a toolkit with resources for analyzing business needs and evaluating a training program's ROI. Users also can answer introductory questions for guidance to a recommended pathway through the site and can participate in discussion forums.

Workforce Strategies Initiative (WSI)
The Aspen Institute
Initiative develops and supports industry-specific programs that help low-income adults advance in the workforce. Produces case studies of programs, research on participant outcomes, reports on workforce development policies, and profiles on participants and employers' experiences with sectoral programs. Also offers providers a Business Value Assessment toolkit to help them assess the effectiveness and efficiency of their workforce development programs. Toolkit includes user-friendly handbook for conducting an assessment, customizable forms for data collection, tracking, and reporting, and an online resource center.

WorkplaceBasicSkills.com
Developed by The Conference Board for the U.S. Department of Education
Tools and information for businesses that want to improve employees' basic skills. Defines workplace basic skills and workplace education programs in the context of their benefits to employers. Provides practical advice on designing and implementing a workplace education program, including assessing skills gaps, evaluating employees' gains, and determining program costs. Includes links to research, experts, and service providers.