Nontraditional and traditional secondary vocational education program completers in West Virginia were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward their school preparation, work, and encountered work barriers. A questionnaire was mailed to 100 nontraditional and 100 traditional program completers, and a 10 percent sample was contacted by…

As one activity of the Workplace Mentorship study, 75 interviews were conducted in 15 programs to examine 30 mentorships. In each program five persons were interviewed: two mentors, two students, and one program staff person. Students were in eleventh or twelfth grade or recently out of high school. The interviews collected from the three types of…

This publication presents Wisconsin employers' and employees' views of high school student work skills and competencies and their concerns for the future preparation of new employees. Section I explains the construction of the survey, the sampling procedures, and survey limitations. Sections II and III discuss the employer and employee…

A study identified, measured, and evaluated factors that determined students' entrance into and progress within apprentice training programs, and made policy recommendations pertaining to linkages between vocational education and apprenticeship programs. Three different methods of assessment were used in the study. The primary instrument was a…

The goal of the 1980 Employment Project in Iowa was to expand nontraditional career options for women and high school girls. The two targeted areas were Des Moines and the Iowa Lakes Region. Project staff sponsored three meetings to help 237 women explore nontraditional jobs and training opportunities. Two intensive orientations to nontraditional…

The movement to train and counsel displaced homemakers began in 1975. State legislation for funding was followed by vocational educational and Comprehensive Employment Training Act funding. The Department of Labor has estimated that there are at least 4.13 million displaced homemakers. A total of 354 displaced homemaker programs have been located.…

A project was designed to develop and field test a job and career placement and follow-up system to serve as a model for state-wide implementation in vocational education programs. Third year objectives were (1) to expand the field test of the placement and follow-up system to six regional satellite test sites utilizing selected high schools and…

Although apprenticeship used to be viewed as academically questionable, today many educators consider it an ideal vehicle for the work-based learning necessary for the school-to-work transition. In particular, youth apprenticeships are seen as having potential to minimize youth floundering in the labor market, ensure educative work experiences,…

Although public policy debate centers on education and training (ET) as a primary determinant of economic success, this study suggests that instead the economy determines patterns of participation in education and training. Research over time shows that planned government ET policies have little ability to affect the economy because the effects of…

Summarizes results from several surveys of students, parents, graduates, teachers, employers, and the public in six states on the quality of vocational education programs, public image, responsiveness of vocational education to student and business community needs, and the extent of articulation between persons and institutions. (MF)

A survey with employers and teacher-coordinators of cooperative education programs showed that young employees' most common deficiencies are in communication skills, both written and oral. Poor handwriting was the leading complaint, followed by misspelling, ignorance of grammar and rhetoric, poor customer relations, and lack of comprehension and…

This document records the oral and written testimony of more than 50 witnesses who testified in a series of hearings held by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on establishing a streamlined top quality and efficient system of work force preparation for young people and dislocated workers. The hearings focused on what the federal role…

A study identified workplace know-how skills and characteristics that employers in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties in Michigan feel workers need to succeed and be productive. Employer input was obtained in fall 1993 at 12 focus group meetings during which a total of 103 of 192 invited local employers (a 53.6% attendance rate) completed…

A study examined the extent to which employers in the United Kingdom (UK) are involved in the youth labor market and in the UK's Training Credits model within the South London Training and Enterprise Council (SOLOTEC) area. Data were collected from the following sources: review of labor market trends; qualitative interviews with 36 employers…

During 1996-97, state agencies in Washington worked to implement the state's High Skills, High Wages Plan for Workforce Training and Education, focusing on seven most urgently needed actions to ensure that the people of the state succeed in an economy that requires ever higher levels of skill and knowledge. The seven actions are the following: (1)…