Increasing numbers of American adults are engaged in many types of learning activities; a significant part of these learning activities are organized and structured. Record-keeping about institutionalized adult learning is often scanty, however, or even non-existent. As the social goal of a "learning society" has been articulated, it has…

The three major presidential candidates express their views on three questions relating to vocational education: (1) what role will vocational education play in the nation's goals; (2) what priority does federal support of vocational programs hold; and (3) how will you spend funds slated for state and federal employment and training programs? (CT)

To address the education and training needs of the current and emerging work force, states must take leadership in developing partnerships between adult educators, community-based organizations, and the private sector. Other strategies include special training funds, resources for high demand occupations, entrepreneurship training, and tax credits…

Evolving federal, state, and local government programs are helping displaced farmers and their families make a transition to nonfarm jobs. To make a successful transition, farm families need personal support, which could include counseling, moral support, help in assessing their financial condition, and legal and technical information to help them…

Discusses the history of welfare reform and the different approaches used in several states. Describes multiple models that have emerged in community colleges, including short-term training programs, open entry/exit programs or alternative entry dates, classes offered at unconventional times, company-specific programs, case-management strategies,…

The latest round of proposed state and federal welfare reforms has major implications for state work force development systems. These systems will face new demands generated by the need to help welfare recipients find jobs before they reach the time limits on aid and the need for states to meet the new work participation rates for federal welfare…

The Western Job Training Partnership Association (WJTPA) supports the periodic evaluation of the scope and effectiveness of national, state, and local work force preparation and work force education programs. The WJTPA believes that future programs must correct the problems inherited from earlier work force preparation programs, such as the…

There are currently more than 150 different federal programs providing some form of employment training assistance. The fragmented system of federal programs creates a variety of problems that hamper attempts to help workers obtain training and find jobs: duplication of services, lack of information on access, multiple administrative entities, and…

This three-part activities report of the Maryland State Council on Vocational-Technical Education relates information primarily on council evaluation activities conducted during Fiscal Years 1989 and 1990, although in some instances more current information was used. Part I summarizes the activities of the council during 1990. Parts II and III…

A program of voluntary national service intended to create new opportunities for citizens to serve their country and each other is proposed by the Democratic Leadership Council. The proposed program would create a Citizens Corps, essentially a new GI Bill, expanded to include civilian as well as military service to the nation. It would be…

The Pennsylvania Summer Youth Service Corps (SYSC) is an effort to assimilate the ideals of community service exemplified by the Peace Corps, VISTA, and the Civilian Conservation Corps with the long-established Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (SYETP). SYSC differs from the existing summer youth employment program by its focus and…

Ohio's commitment to vocational education is stronger than ever. Vocational education programs in Ohio reflect the fact that not all high school graduates go on to higher education; job training programs offered in Ohio schools provide young people with marketable job skills. To determine these skills, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) makes…

Welfare reform is directed toward development of programs that focus on work. Of major consequence to this move toward welfare reform are misconceptions about welfare recipients. While some can work, fewer than 10 percent of all recipients would be subject to any work requirement, and while many remain on welfare for extended periods, one-half of…

This report describes an array of innovative strategies and practical ideas for helping low-income families with children. There is a window of opportunity for these new strategies as many states have tremendous financial resources available. The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) program rules have been clarified, and families are…

Five strategies have been identified as particularly promising as the most useful ways government can spend money to aid dislocated workers. The mix of income support programs can be enriched for workers who have been unemployed for a long time but who are not permanently dislocated. For most dislocated workers, only limited job searching…