Youth apprenticeship programs can give students access to valuable work-based learning experiences that provide insights into how their interest can connect to education and the workforce. Although these programs are often beneficial for participants, there is little data to show the programmatic landscape and impact. There are many challenges…

This resource was prepared in response to a request for information about the innovations and lessons learned as the result of the investments States have made in transforming their workforce using their Race to the Top -- Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grants. These strategies and accomplishments will be helpful to other States as they…

Career education at the elementary level in Oregon focuses on career awareness and career exploration. At the secondary level a higher degree of experiences is developed in career exploration, which is concerned with self-understanding, occupational exploration, and career information. Career exploration provides experiences in career decision…

The article outlines the process used in Oregon to initiate a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) in special education. Factors contributing to the CSPD success include extensive involvement of a wide array of people in the process, clear responsibility outlines, and workable size of the cooperative personnel planning council. (CL)

Plans for the implementation of career education in the elementary schools of Oregon focus on career awareness through emphasis on the producer role in relation to other life roles. The guidelines briefly cover: program administration and coordination, student outcomes (curriculum tenets, assumptions, and outcomes, providing broad objectives to…

Relating learning processes to the implementation of a career education program, the article summarizes four learning models for career awareness: the curriculum model, the guidance model, the conceptualized model, and the process model. Suggested teacher competencies and questions for program administrators are offered. (MW)

Interest is growing in planning and implementing new systems of holding child and family services accountable for results. The Results-Based Accountability (RBA) Project at the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) has supported and built upon recent state efforts to develop these new accountability systems for child and family services. The RBA…

This newsletter article describes early identification of children who have hearing impairments in Oregon. Oregon was selected to demonstrate a model system for early identification that had been developed in Utah. A new birth certificate was designed, which enabled the Oregon Health Division to screen for risk factors for hearing loss. A…

Identifies some of the variables critical for the success of at least 6 treatment programs serving disturbed children and their families. Variables center around combination of 3 concepts: (1) family-child community orientation; (2) inter-disciplinary approach that revolves around child care worker; (3) community ownership through an invested lay…

An evaluation of Oregon's professional technical education and work force programs was conducted through examination of handbooks for high school and community colleges, secondary education enrollment reports, state employment division documents, Workforce 2000 applications, and interim and final reports on professional technical education and…

This report describes the Oregon Department of Education's 5-year Capacity Building Program (CBP), which had as its primary goal the development of a management plan and an information network to provide access to educational resources in response to state and local needs. A discussion of program goals is followed by a review of CBP management…

The task of matching people to jobs is made difficult by the cumulative effects of change. Flexibility of the labor force has decreased because of the lack of low skill jobs and the increased employment of women and minority groups. Oregon's research efforts, prompted by need for data by public and private sectors, was directed at ways of…

This newsletter issue reviews the research and literature on issues and best practices in programs to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities to adult life. First, the definition of transition services under the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is presented and explained. Next, a…

The five states featured in this second edition of "Innovative States" were chosen because they reflect crucial elements in an emerging understanding of state policy making in family support and education. Creative state partnerships involving program development and funding are a key ingredient to successful endeavors. States rely on…

Presented is a summary of the State Master Plan for Special Education in Oregon, designed to guide the activities necessary to achieve the goal of providing full educational opportunities for all handicapped children by September 1, 1980. The document is divided into two major sections: rationale, philosophy, and definitions for a state master…