Business and higher education must form a true partnership with primary and secondary school professions to meet the critical problems posed by basic skill deficiencies in the nation's work force. Despite existing barriers, suggestions have been made regarding ways in which cooperation can be achieved. It has been argued that cooperative education should be expanded; more local and regional interaction is needed between top executives and educators to explore mutual opportunities and problems; and the most successful partnerships have been broad-based, and interdisciplinary, and have been initiated and administered by universities with collaborative financial support from several industries. Finally, because education and industry have different purposes and values, each must consider what they can realistically do for each other, especially in terms of which kinds of preparation each can do most effectively and efficiently. (YLB)