In the late 1980s, in response to a number of problems including consistently low academic performance by students and graduates lacking the skills needed by employers, Swansea High School in Swansea, South Carolina, launched a major reform effort designed to transform Swansea into a high-performance high school. During the multi-year reform…

Belgium's vocational education and training (VET) was examined. The following topics were considered: (1) the VET environment (political and administrative structures; the economy; the labor force; unemployment); (2) Belgium's educational system (funding principles; the structure and objectives of basic, secondary, and higher education); (3) the…

Alberta Learning was created in May 1999 to enhance the focus of the government of Alberta, Canada, on lifelong learning and equipping all Albertans with the information and skills needed to live and work in the information age. During its first year of operation, Alberta Learning focused on its core businesses of basic learning, adult learning,…

The national policies and implementation mechanisms for girls' primary and women's basic education in the following Asian countries were examined: Lao People's Democratic Republic; Nepal, Thailand; Indonesia; and India. The analysis focused on the following issues: (1) goals and progress; (2) national policies; (3) strategies (strengthening…

Special education instruction in the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) for students with learning difficulties is shamefully ineffective. These students, usually classified as having a "Specific Learning Disability" or "Speech and language impairment," comprise more than half of all children receiving special…

Students with disabilities across the nation, including Baltimore City, are failing to achieve their academic potential. Inadequate instruction and other inappropriate or unlawful practices cause and conceal the dysfunction of special education. At long last, the illusion and broken promises of special education have been publicly exposed. Under…

Virginia has 36 criminal justice training academies, including 10 regional academies. The academies conduct entry-level, inservice, and specialized training for law enforcement officers, jailers, and other criminal justice personnel. In 1998, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) was directed to review the quality, consistency,…

Pennsylvania's family literacy programs were subjected to a statewide evaluation in 1999-2000. Data were collected through focus groups with parents, a survey of staff in community agencies and organizations, and analyses of program data and the findings of selected assessments administered to adults and children involved in the program.…

This manual provides a tool for training community-based primary school teachers with a focus on a child-centered approach. There are 34 sections: (1) "Who an Affective Teacher Is"; (2) "How Children Learn"; (3) "Schemes of Work" and "Records of Work"; (4) "The Lesson"; (5) "Lesson Plan";…

Minnesota's Youthbuild program helps at-risk youths gain useful job skills while building safe, affordable housing in their neighborhoods and working toward their high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate. In 1999, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated 751,000 dollars per year in Youthbuild funds. The program…

This book contains 13 case studies that illustrate models, techniques, theories, strategies, and issues relevant to leadership development programs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The following papers are included: "The Past, Present, and Future of Leadership Development" (Franklin C. Ashby); "Leadership Development…

Research on changes and issues in workplace learning in Australia over the past 6 years was reviewed. Special attention was paid to four topics: importance of learning in the workplace; nature of workplace learning; factors affecting the quality of workplace learning; and recognition of workplace learning. Selected findings were as follows: (1)…

In recent years, Australia's system of adult and community education (ACE) has broadened to include vocational learning as well as the hobby, enrichment, and personal development traditionally provided by ACE in the past. A study examined the views of ACE providers, ACE students, and industry organizations regarding ACE vocational education and…

The National Job Corps Study was undertaken to obtain the information needed to assess the Job Corps' success in providing employment assistance to disadvantaged youths aged 16 to 24 years. The study's findings related to outreach and admissions (OA) and center characteristics and practices that appear to promote positive programmatic experiences…

This "Report Card to the Public, a Summary of Statistics from Alaska's Public Schools," is published in accordance with Alaska Statute 14.03.120 for the school year 2005-2006. This publication reports the status of public education in Alaska. It is a source of information for Alaska's educational policymakers, including legislators, the…