"Of all the education and training providers in the United States, community colleges and two-year technical colleges are in the best position to respond directly and quickly to the ideals of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. The act promotes a systemic approach to preparing a global workforce by establishing a framework within which states can create school-to-work systems. Community colleges are an important linchpin in the new paradigm, particularly as the neutral convener of the new collaborative and entrepreneurial partnerships, consortia, and coalitions that will be necessary. This edition... demonstrates how community colleges are engaged in strengthening existing partnerships with schools, employers, and labor- and community-based organizations as they develop new programs to address the three major components of school-to-work systems."--From publisher.