To determine the effectiveness of a secondary vocational education program and to establish a pattern for evaluation procedures, a committee composed of five counselors and three teachers used questionnaires to gather data from students, graduates of the program, parents, teachers, and employers. To insure validity, followup telephone calls and…

This study focused on the general attitudes held by school administrators toward the blind teacher. A two-part questionnaire, consisting of 13 descriptive items and a 10-item attitude scale, was completed by 553 elementary and secondary school administrators in the state of Minnesota. A frequency distribution was compiled to show degrees of…

Interviews with 101 employers in a 6-county rural area and survey responses from 95 indicated that most have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified workers; most offer formal training; their low level of satisfaction with high school graduates increased as educational levels increased; and highest concerns were about motivation, listening,…

The basic educational requirements desired by businesses of new employees and the relationship of the computer to their work were determined through site visits to 17 businesses. Employers wanted microcomputer proficiency, excellent communication skills, analytical and interpersonal skills, and background in word and data processing and…

Employer involvement is a crucial element in the success of school-to-work initiatives. To reach out to employers, states can do the following: target key employers and industries; foster employer ownership; give employers opportunities to recruit their peers; create or collaborate with intermediary organizations; establish partnerships with labor…

Work experience for youth with disabilities is one of the most critical factors that sets the stage for their postsecondary employment success. Research and practice show that youth benefit from frequent and continuous exposure to real work environments throughout the secondary school years and beyond. These experiences, however, occur only when…

The present status of information on employer satisfaction with former secondary level vocational education students, as well as current methods being used to collect employer data, are reviewed. The kind and quality of information appear to be closely related to the methodology employed. (Author)

Responses from 40 Slovenian companies and from school principals indicate the following: employers are not satisfied with graduates of vocational and professional training; most principals think schools are slow to respond to scientific/technical needs; and most employers are willing to participate in program planning in schools. (SK)

Ratings of workplace ethics competencies by 67 educators and 43 industry representatives resulted in 34 competencies needed and used frequently by new workers. Educators rated 11 competencies higher than business reps, who rated 1 competency higher than teachers did. (SK)

A follow-up study was conducted of a 20 percent sample of secondary schools (77) and administrators in Iowa who had students who completed or left vocational programs during the 1984-85 school year. A student follow-up surveyed 1,945 students, and 153 employers were queried. Information was sought through a mailed survey. Student responses were…

The authors attempted to determine what computer skills are needed by students for entry-level employment in agribusiness. Although teachers are using computers for instruction, few employers rate computer skills as important for entry-level workers. (CH)

Twenty-five of 46 vocational agriculture departments in Utah were surveyed with the following results: very little correlation between teachers' and employers' perceptions of content emphases; positive relationship between student performance and teacher emphases in agribusiness and negative in agricultural production; and positive relationship…

The employer's role in determing whether the handicapped individual successfully makes the transition from school to work is examined. Teachers need to be trained in the importance of employee/employer relationships and need to begin to help employers to accept a teacher role with new handicapped workers. (PHR)

A survey to determine value of supervised occupational experience (SOE) programs obtained responses from 551 (of 1,008) parents, 95 (of 201) employers, and 65 (of 76) vocational agricultural instructors of graduates of Idaho vocational agriculture programs from 1981-1986. Data show parents and employers recognize the benefits of SOE programs and…

A synthesis of research findings demonstrates the positive effects of vocational-technical education on skills, abilities, work habits, and employment outcomes such as salaries and employment rate. (SK)