Intended to help business-led coalitions master the seven principles of success in education and workforce development, this primer begins with a discussion of the problems stemming from the structural transition underway in the U.S. economy, an overview of the 21st century workforce system, and the potential role of business-led coalitions in finding effective solutions to workforce issues at the community level. The following seven principles of exemplary business-led coalitions are explained: (1) demand-driven; (2) business-led; (3) systems-focused; (4) competency-based; (5) outcome-oriented; (6) change-minded; and (7) data-informed. Presented next are a checklist of 25 questions to help coalition members maximize their use of the seven principles. Concluding the primer are profiles of the following seven exemplary coalitions, which represent the variety of coalition models at work across the United States and embody the seven principles of success: the Fresno Compact (Fresno, California); Future Works (Springfield, Massachusetts); the Omaha Community model (Omaha, Nebraska); the Business Coalition for Education Excellence (Trenton, New Jersey); the North Carolina Business Committee for Education; the Dallas-Fort Worth Work Coalition (Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas); and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership (Montpelier, Vermont). Each profile includes a contact person and address. (MN)