Describes the newly formed national and state occupational information coordinating committees, under the Education Amendments of 1976 and earlier legislation, which are charged with implementing an occupational information system for the planning and operation of state training and employment programs and with coordinating occupational…

The author describes the work of the Richmond, Virginia school board that has devised a plan to coordinate vocational and academic programs. The article discusses the emphasis on career counseling, major elements of the program's policies, program budgeting, and the move to gain support from Richmond's business and industrial community. (CT)

Excerpts of the NIE Vocational Education Study are presented. Areas covered include federal goals, distributing funds, special needs students, sex equity, improving planning, extending and improving programs, strengthening evaluations, and options for change. (CT)

Describes the design and implementation of the microcomputer network that will soon link every vocational center and comprehensive high school in West Virginia. The author discusses the advantages of networking, what equipment is used, instructional emphases, how various programs use the network, teacher training, and learner outcomes. (CT)

The PREPS (Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools) consortium in Mississippi is described. The article discusses the consortium's purpose, the role of university researchers, what kind of research is conducted, function of the PREPS staff, PREPS membership, the kinds of problems that PREPS addresses, and suggestions for developing…

Four colleagues at Idaho State University describe how they used the DACUM (Developing A Curriculum) process to figure out what microcomputer competencies vocational educators need. Competencies include developing a personal plan for microcomputer competency; integrating computer-based instruction (CBI) into the vocational curriculum; planning,…

The ten-state university extension pilot program of the Energy Extension Service, United States Department of Energy, provides training through the state vocational education system for staff from utilities, community agencies, and local government to make on-site energy audits and encourage conservation by small energy users. (MF)

Triton College, River Grove, IL, has responded to the impact of advanced technologies and to a changing society by (1) modifying and upgrading programs, (2) developing new programs, and (3) developing programs for displaced workers. (JOW)

Describes the Cooperative Industrial Education Program at a New Jersey high school. In the program, apprenticeship training is offered in the schools along with the basics (English, mathematics, history, physical education). Also discussed is how the program developed, employers' support, and the program's long-range effects. (CT)

Describes the concept and development of "magnet" high schools in Dallas, Texas, as part of their compliance with the desegration court order and also to provide specialized and intensified career training. Each magnet school includes job-oriented instruction in an occupational cluster, planned with business and industry input. (MF)

Discusses the expanding opportunities available to handicapped students and the changing role of educators and administrators as they strive to provide equal opportunity in all areas of vocational education. Suggested techniques for developing an individualized education program are given. (LRA)

Pittsburgh Public Schools' student placement coordinator describes their program to help secondary students and school leavers with cooperative, part-time, and later full-time job placement, using behavior modification and cooperative education. Includes program organization, use of paraprofessionals, funding, and the importance of employer…

Part of the desegration plan for the Detroit Public Schools included the construction under federal court order of five area vocational schools, the first to open in January 1980. Describes steps in program planning, initial lack of public support for vocational education, and growing community support for the concept. (MF)

The Noble Center for Advancing Technology (Oklahoma) is described. The center's "cell" concept, which fosters interaction among disciplines and encourages faculty to increase their sphere of knowledge, is described. Faculty members are quoted concerning their roles in and feelings about the center. (CT)

The author presents an 18-point action plan to develop youth's job skills and job opportunities. He calls for a comprehensive youth development policy including job stimulation, mastery of basic competencies and employability skills, and the establishment of local-state-federal youth development councils. (MF)