Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- I. Defining Success in Preparing Individuals for Work -- Chapter 1: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor . . . A Public Policy Agenda on Today's Students and Tomorrow's Jobs -- Chapter 2: Assessing and Measuring Workforce Readiness: A Discussion Toward the Development of a Universal and Valid Measure -- Chapter 3: Work- Based Learning: Initiatives and Impact -- II. The Role of Different Educational Providers in Preparing Students for Work -- Chapter 4: Improving Career and Technical Education in the United States -- Chapter 5: Postsecondary Education and Economic Opportunity -- Chapter 6: Community College Occupational Degrees: Are they Worth it? -- Chapter 7: The Conundrum of Profit - Making Institutions in Higher Education -- III. Implications for Institutional Practice and Public Policy -- Chapter 8: Strengthening the Education and Workforce Connection: What Types of Research are Required to Determine How Well Career Pathways Programs Prepare Students for College and Careers? -- Chapter 9: Conceiving Regional Pathways to Prosperity Systems -- Chapter 10: Aligning Secondary and Postsecondary Credentialization with Economic Development Strategy, or "If Low Educational Attainment = Poor Metropolitan Competitiveness, what can be done about it?" -- Chapter 11: Creating Effective Education and Workforce Policies for Metropolitan Labor Markets in the United States -- Conclusion -- Notes -- List of References -- List of Contributors -- Index -- Acknowledgments.