This packet contains materials about and by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) for Vocational Special Education of the Irving Independent School District (IISD), Texas. It discusses benefits to the business sector, both corporately and individually: introduction of management to an untapped resource, employee involvement in worthwhile programs,…

Describes the efforts of a project which attempted to meet the needs of pupils who have become disaffected with school. Discusses how the participating schools reorganized and worked to strengthen community relationships and to provide new directions in curriculum planning and program assessment and accreditation. (ML)

Seven theme articles address the unique problems of agriculture programs at the postsecondary level, including finding placement sites for supervised occupational experience programs (SOEPs), developing technical and leadership skills, bridging the theory practice gap, managing time, and supervising SOEPs. (SK)

Describes a student-run restaurant which is part of a comprehensive 2-year program in food service. (TA)

The theme of this issue is the importance of quality in supervised occupational experience (SOE) programs. Contributors discuss planning, principles, the use of SOE as an instructional tool, alternative approaches to SOE, standards, and placement programs. (JOW)

Input from the vocational advisory committee and from the student employment segment of the educational program are effective in identifying what the needs of industry are. (LRA)

A new longitudinal study reveals that the negative association between hours worked and grade point average is weaker for high schoolers in cooperative education (co-op) than in "outside" jobs. High school co-op leads to higher wages soon after graduation. However, students who curtail their education to pursue full-time employment could…

Analysis of data on 3,182 Swedish students compared those in workplace training arranged by their school with those trained in jobs acquired on their own (market governed). Girls had more of both types, especially school arranged. Those with market-governed training were three times more likely to avoid unemployment and had more positive attitudes…

Using a specially constructed panel data set on state minimum wage laws and labor market conditions, Neumark and Wascher (1992) presented evidence that countered the claim that minimum wages could be raised with no cost to employment. They concluded that estimates indicating that minimum wages reduced employment on the order of 1-2 percent for a…

Completers of career- or work-oriented secondary programs (n=399) were compared with 4,476 other high school graduates. Completers had more continuous employment and earned more over 6 years, were less likely to have short-term first jobs, and performed nearly the same on college outcomes (percent with degrees, grade point average, percent in…

The pragmatist model of experiential learning in the form of work placements in industry provides opportunities for tertiary institutions to produce well-rounded graduates, possessing knowledge of workplace culture and values along with technical competencies. Work-based learning programmes provide graduates and leaders of tomorrow for a variety…

A survey of 127 high school special education teachers revealed a number of deficiencies in vocational programming for mildly handicapped students, with deficiencies more widespread for rural than for nonrural schools. Fewer rural schools administered interest inventories, used inventory results for placement, or placed mildly handicapped students…

Provides insights for job counselors preparing to counsel potential and established industrial arts majors and graduates. Discusses common myths concerning the field including: industrial arts equals special education or vocational education, industrial arts is not for college-bound students, or industrial arts is strictly for teacher preparation.…

With the help of parents and employers, Texas schools are helping special needs students to compensate for their disabilities, accept their handicaps, and achieve success in a vocation. Special education students attend a vocational adjustment class to develop basic job skills. (LRA)

The desirability of raising the minimum wage long revolved around just one question: the effect of higher minimum wages on the overall level of employment. An even more critical effect of the minimum wage rests on the composition of employment--who gets the minimum wage job. An examination of employment in eating and drinking establishments…