The report asserts that U.S. and Wisconsin schools and workers are being used as scapegoats for the nation's and the state's social and economic problems. The propositions that U.S. students are not globally competitive and U.S. schools failures are "complete hoaxes." The report further asserts that a third big hoax being perpetrated on…

To identify the needs of the employee for job entry in the automotive trades, data were collected by questionnaire from graduates of vocational and technical schools in the State and from their employers. The information obtained was intended to be utilized by educators in upgrading vocational school automotive programs and curriculums. Findings…

A follow-up survey was conducted of all clients of Wisconsin's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services whose cases were closed between October 1988 through November 1989. Of the 9,052 surveys mailed out, 2,498 (27.6%) were returned. The following percentages of program completers reported some kind of work within 6 months of leaving…

The Wisconsin Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education (VTAE) System annually conducts a student follow-up survey to gather data on the activities and perceptions of graduates of Designed to provide information for career awareness and program planning efforts, the survey investigates the current activities of VTAE graduates and the relationship…

Presenters at a public hearing testified about strategies that were working and those that were considered not to be working in the Wisconsin vocational education system. The strategies that were cited as "working" were: education provided to businesses by VTAE (Vocational-Technical Adult Education district) colleges; interaction between…

A survey of 501 Wisconsin firms (260 responses) assessed the impact of changes in demand, productivity, and technology on the employment needs and training requirements of Wisconsin employers in 10 selected economic sectors. Major findings included the following: (1) Wisconsin's services sector has recently experienced major employment growth and…

A program sought to: (1) identify and assess the needs of Wisconsin vocational personnel teaching within fields nontraditional for their sex; (2) conduct a workshop for nontraditional staff; and (3) develop and disseminate a database of resource persons and a handbook identifying those working in occupations nontraditional for their sex. The…

An evaluation of secondary vocational education in Wisconsin was made using self-evaluation data from 55 schools. Each school gathered data from graduates, employers, advisory committee members, staff, and current students. Findings from the data were synthesized under five outcome areas: employment, postsecondary training, training satisfaction,…

This report, part of a 5-year evaluation project (fiscal years 1983-87), represents a summary and synthesis of self evaluation data from 45 secondary schools. Each school conducted an extensive vocational program self evaluation, accumulating data from graduates, employers, advisory committee members, staff and current students. On site…

Observations of schools and the economies of various countries and regions (including the Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, and the United States) suggest that the following generally accepted principles may be called hoaxes: (1) great numbers of new emerging jobs of the future will require much higher skill levels for workers; (2)…

This document provides the procedures and instruments through which vocational education program personnel may evaluate or reevaluate the value and effectiveness of their program. It was prepared to help secondary vocational educators prepare for self-evaluation of their programs and site visits by educational personnel as part of a statewide…

Four essays are designed to provide perspective and dimension to the Stout Data Analysis and to the Business and Education Survey. The essayists who interpret the Stout and survey data represent the viewpoints of (1) business (David Horn), (2) a researcher in vocational education (Orville Nelson), (3) a vocational educator (Albert Pitts), and (4)…

This document contains an overview of the Wisconsin Secondary Vocational Program Evaluation Project and guidelines for educators making evaluation site visits to the 55 schools evaluated in 1986-87. The first section of the guide introduces the evaluation program and outlines its components. Three following chapters cover: (1) goals of the team…

A study examined the job-related skills acquired and career opportunities that have arisen for 1966, 1971, and 1976 graduates of postsecondary vocational-technical programs in Wisconsin's Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education (VTAE) system. Fifteen VTAE graduates from each of the years 1966, 1971, and 1976 completed a 26-item survey designed…

Eleven papers on rural economic development cover challenges and opportunities; employment trends affecting nonmetropolitan areas; status of nonmetropolitan women and minorities; case studies of Vermont, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and California; western urban and regional development; economic development in small cities; and rural policy…