In the United States, approximately one in ten adults -- nearly 36 million people -- lack basic literacy and numeracy skills, while 27 million adults lack a high school diploma. Over the last decade, new models for adult education have emerged that integrate basic skills education with workforce and college-readiness training. These integrated…

A study examined some of the ways in which vocational education has sought to ensure students a higher degree of preparation in the basic academic subjects at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. Various Ohio programs as well as programs in New York, Virginia, and Michigan were examined. Special attention was paid to Ohio's Program Options…

A study was conducted in Minnesota to identify generic knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) that are germane to all of the fields of vocational education--that all students will need for future roles in the family and work force. The research consisted of a review of the literature pertaining to generic skills needed for work and a validation…

The State of New Jersey has proposed moving its competency test of basic skills from the 9th to the 11th grade, in order to allow for more content learning, more maturity, and more test-taking skills on the part of students. Since vocational students are more likely than other students to score low on the basic skills competency test, having the…

A study examined the system of performance measures and standards approved in each state in response to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act of 1990. An initial letter and two follow-up letters were sent to 54 state directors of vocational education. All states responded with information concerning their approved systems of…

After 2 years of a 5-year pilot project to develop approaches to strengthen basic competencies of students enrolled in vocational programs in Oklahoma, two of the projects were reviewed. The study sought to: (1) document the incidence and level of basic skills instruction, along with the teaching methods and materials used, in the vocational and…

A project provided teachers and other school personnel with a set of practical instruments for assessing students' generalizable mathematics skills in the secondary vocational training programs in Illinois. The major accomplishments of the project were advisory committee identification and selection; population and sample identification and…

Following a brief discussion of the development of the "South Carolina Educational Objectives for 1975," needs assessment data are provided. These data provide the criteria, status measure, and discrepancy related to School Dropouts, Instruction in Basic Skills, Program for the Handicapped, State-Wide Kindergarten, First Grade Failures,…

The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) report challenged schools, parents, and businesses to help all students develop competencies in the basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities required for work in the current and future workplace. In response to this challenge, vocational-technical programs were…

A study examined the skill areas and skills that were generalizable within and across the secondary vocational training programs in the 32 area vocational centers in Illinois. During the project, researchers worked to develop, validate, and determine the reliability of a generalizable skills instrument and to identify which mathematics,…

A survey was conducted of Colorado secondary career and technical programs in 1995 to gauge how the state has responded to mandates of the Carl Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act of 1990. Results were reported for the first three of nine standards developed by a statewide committee in 1992. The three standards require secondary programs…

Migrant Education has historically served elementary students. In recent years a significant amount of effort and resources have gone into secondary education, but baseline data have not been available about this activity. This report examines current practices in all states, entered in alphabetical order but excluding Hawaii, which has no migrant…

An evaluation was conducted to describe Tech Prep prototypes as they have been implemented in five sites in Indiana and to determine the effectiveness of the programs. Tech Prep is a curriculum initiative that: is performance based, provides students with skills necessary to gain employment or to pursue further education upon high school…

A third-party evaluation of the Texas coordinated vocational-academic education (CVAE) program was conducted in 1984-85 to determine the effectiveness of CVAE as a vocational program for meeting the needs of secondary students who are unsuccessful in traditional academic programs. A project advisory committee was established, a review of…

A survey was conducted of Colorado postsecondary career and technical programs in 1995 to gauge how the state has responded to mandates of the Carl Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act of 1990. Results were reported for the first three of nine standards developed by a statewide committee in 1992. The three standards require postsecondary…