To study employer motivations for participating in school-to-work (STW) programs, researchers sought programs with a strong work-based learning component, specifically those where employers took students as interns or apprentices for one or two school years. In 1995 and 1996, 1 or 2 site visits were made to each of 12 programs. Researchers toured…

A survey involving 1,142 Nashville, Tennessee, area businesses was conducted to assess current employment interest and future labor demands for entry-level jobs. Major objectives of the project component, part of a three-pronged effort to improve vocational education, were (1) to provide for greater involvement by business and industry in…

A survey of 379 Elkhart County, Indiana, employers was conducted to determine the local labor force situation. Replies received from 141 employers were analyzed, with the following findings reported: (1) more than 520 job openings existed for unskilled, entry-level jobs, but employers were having trouble filling them because candidates were poorly…

Educators are increasingly turning to employers for advice about educating for future jobs. A recent project involved conducting a series of seven national conferences on high technology to learn about innovations in industry. Experts from industry told educators that industry itself does a great deal of high technology training, computers are the…

The Montgomery County Public Schools, (MCPS), Maryland, annually surveys its graduating classes to help determine whether MCPS adequately prepares its graduates. This is the first follow-up study of MCPS's 10 special education schools' graduates (class of 1983). It investigates: (1) postsecondary education and employment activities; (2) students'…

The presentation focused on findings of three studies, and implications for parent-teacher-employer involvement in development and implementation of career education programs for TMR (trainable mentally retarded) adolescents. Study I examined parent and teacher ratings of adaptive behavior and vocational interests. Study II investigated parent,…

A project was conducted to involve New Jersey business and industry representatives in validating a set of student-based guidance and counseling standards developed by New Jersey counselors for statewide implementation. The Structured Group Interview technique of Task List Verification was selected as the validation method. The project design…

The author organized a "Visitation Day" where students could be employees in different firms for half a day each. Before the visits each firm provided pertinent information about its operations and the students received appropriate orientation. Rotation of visits to various firms introduced the students to different types of offices. Response from…

Japan's system of vocational and technical education is described, including student distributions, program admission, and employers' attitudes. Differences between Japanese and Western vocational training are discussed. (MSE)

Allegany Community College in Cumberland, Maryland, conducted an employer assessment survey of Somerset County businesses during the winter of 1995 in order to provide evaluation data for planning and curriculum development for the secondary and postsecondary educational institutions. The survey was mailed to 760 establishments, with a 29 percent…

Employers believe high school graduates have inadequate reading, writing, math, thinking, and communication skills. A declining number of good jobs for first-time workers can be attributed to employers' focus on retraining their remaining employees or in recruiting skilled and otherwise qualified workers who were laid off because of other…

Alternative schools in public school districts and private institutions offer a choice of more than one educational option to students. These schools usually have some of the following characteristics: voluntary participation, distinctiveness, nonexclusiveness, comprehensive objectives, and a supportive learning environment. Instructional styles…

A survey investigated what employers in the Thames Valley, England, were looking for in their recruitment of young people aged 16-18. Of 600 companies, 37 percent responded. Twenty percent did not recruit at that age level; 76 percent required two advanced ("A") levels and Pass grades. Recruitment of young people with a General…

This paper is a product of Project COMPETE, a service demonstration project undertaken for the purpose of developing and validating a model and training sequence to improve transition services for moderately, severely, and profoundly retarded youth. The paper reports on a study which examined the communication skills, critical academic skills, and…

This Resource Manual is one of the four components of "The Employer's Choice," a research-based, multimedia set of instructional materials to prepare students for job market success. ("The Employer's Choice" is part of the "Connections" package, which represents a synthesis of significant work on education and employment and presents a coordinated…