As the United States grapples with COVID-19 and the dangerous dislocations it has brought to the American economy, it may be hard to turn our attention to an ongoing issue like workforce development. But we would argue there is no better time. While jobs have been returning, an unprecedented 26.5 million Americans filed for unemployment over a…

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated with vivid clarity how important it is for people to have digital literacy skills. From the workplace to the classroom and beyond, being able to use digital tools effectively is fundamental to success. To succeed in this rapidly changing environment, workers need broad-based digital problem-solving skills that…

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) is the primary federal law aimed at developing and supporting career and technical education (CTE) programs for secondary and postsecondary students. In the 109th Congress, the Perkins Act was reauthorized by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of…

In 2018, California Governor Gavin Newsom set an ambitious goal of reaching 500,000 active apprentices by 2029. He did so because apprenticeship is a proven model and clear strategy for connecting Californians to good jobs. It has a strong track record for workers and employers in the skilled trades and in firefighting, but apprenticeship…

The purpose of this Policy Impact Snapshot is to identify the major categories of career and technical education (CTE) currently available within our nation's secondary and postsecondary education systems and describe the existing research on whether these programs are achieving desired outcomes for students. This Policy Impact Snapshot describes…

The 2018 elections were historic on many levels, with the highest turnout in a midterm year since 1914, record numbers of women winning office, and the first Native American and Muslim women ever elected to Congress. At the state level, 36 governors' races were on the ballot, and 20 newly elected governors take office in January. As these 20 new…

High school students who complete technical coursework in a given field should be able to demonstrate their skill mastery by passing a technical skill assessment that is recognized in that field. States are using a variety of approaches to assess students' skill attainment, with some adopting industry-recognized assessments linked to national…

The Skills Commission for the 21st Century was established by the Maine Technical College System Board of Trustees to determine the critical complementary skills necessary for success in the workplace of the 1990s. This report presents the Commission's findings based on input from employers and other key groups in the state. Following introductory…

For a competitive advantage, Ohio must be sensitive to three national trends that will reshape its work force: the growing gap between the skill requirements of jobs and workers' capabilities, the slow growth of the labor force, and demands of a global economy. The future competitiveness of Ohio's economy will depend on its capacity to support the…

The process, activities, and outcomes of a plan for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a statewide coordinated system for nursing education in Kentucky are described. The background and objectives of the 5-year Kentucky Nursing Education Project are discussed, along with the following project components: organizational base,…

Florida View is an information system developed to provide career and training information for students, counselors, occupational specialists, and teachers. The information is contained on two card decks designed to be read on microfilm readers or reader-printers. Presented in the document are the goals and objectives, advantages, cost and…

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) has authorized services to assist Arizona employer clients and job-seeking clients in developing businesses and communities with qualified staff who can respond to opportunities for business and job growth. Locations in which businesses and jobs are growing require responsive mechanisms that address unique…

This report provides direction for assessment policy and practice in employability and work force education and training programs serving youth and adult learners in Iowa. It provides a research base for the consideration of common assessment instruments for youth and adult learners in these programs. The report first identifies existing…

This report is a comprehensive needs assessment study that provides the foundation for a statewide adult basic education (ABE) accountability system in Iowa. Data from this study, conducted in 1993-94 by the Iowa Department of Education, were collected through a survey mailed to a total of 9,700 ABE program staff, community agency contact persons,…

A task force convened by the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education and the Colorado Department of Education met in 1984-85 to seek ways to bring vocational education, industrial arts education, and general education closer together in the preparation of students for entry into the world of work. This report…