Mission:

The mission of the Adams County Business - Education Partnership (BEP) is to engage and organize the leadership of the business and labor community to work with education, government and others to design, implement and sustain an industry-driven, competency-based program that encourages and enables students (K through 12) to attain world class academic and skill standards in schools located in the Adams County area. The Business Education Partnership directly links school and work experiences and integrates the strengths of existing education and training programs.

History:

The Adams County Business Education Partnership of the Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce began in 1991 as a result of the 1988 Future Directions Committee survey to determine local priorities. The survey pointed to an "educational deficit" within the community. The survey showed concerns about the need for higher skill level and job readiness for the entry-level workforce, the dropout rate, and the educational level of the population. The Partnership established a compact between the business and education community and began the job of helping Adams County provide the emerging labor force with the means of acquiring skills to increase their level of mobility within the local labor force market. The Adams County Economic Education Foundation, a 501-C-3 public charity, acts as the fiduciary agent for the ACBEP.

In 1994 the US Congress passed the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. While this Act sunset in September 2001, it established a system or framework for the Business Education Partnership to grow and flourish to meet the changing needs of the community. During the past fourteen years a strong working partnership has evolved between the business and education communities of Adams County. In July 2002, through a grant from the South Central Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, the focus of the Partnership broadened to include more emphasis on serving eligible youth through a Youth Investment System. The BEP works with the six school districts and the Adams County area business community. .

Board Members: