Educational reform in the United States is perpetually evolving. Much of the recent reforms have concentrated on high-stakes testing and assessment, but a parallel effort has been emerging in the field of vocational and career education. Prompted partly by federal legislation--most recently by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act…

Describes the use of "open scenes" to meet state-mandated educational goals, such as those in Kentucky's Education Reform Act. Discusses how open scenes can be an effective pedagogical technique to develop acting skills and help students meet the goals of current educational reform. Discusses the use of a GOTE sheet (goals, other,…

Pennsylvania's education reforms seek to accomplish many aims of outcome-based education--namely less reliance on time as the primary organizational component and greater focus on what students must know and be able to do to graduate from high school. The point is to raise academic achievement by establishing high standards. (Author)

Analyzes two initiatives in Australian education that have attempted to influence the future directions of high school chemistry curricula: the concept of a national curriculum encompassing eight key learning areas and the reform processes of individual state governments. Presents a radically different syllabus produced by the State of Victoria as…

"Collaboration" is a ubiquitously championed concept and widely recognized across the public and private sectors as the foundation on which the capacity for addressing complex issues is predicated. For those invested in organizational improvement, high-quality collaboration has become no less than an imperative. However, evaluators and program…

Implementation of the Illinois Plan for Industrial Technology Education was assessed through interviews with 117 teachers. The assessment model (based on Stufflebeam's Context, Input, Process, Product) blended qualitative and quantitative information. Six key dimensions of change were identified, and the Transition Assessment Inventory proved…

Idaho has improved its historically poor career and technical education programs by changing priorities and increasing state support. A large grant from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is being used to develop professional-technical academies and to train career and technical teachers. (JOW)

Articles describe elements of Oregon's' tech prep program: "New Software Helps Students Visualize a Career Path" (Buhl); "Bridge Construction Ahead" (Roach); and "To Track Students, Oregon Goes to the Bar" (Dutson). (JOW)

Surveys, interviews, and site visits were used to evaluate 10 years of tech prep in Michigan and identify models of excellent practice. Results showed community colleges lagging behind high schools in implementation. Best sign for the future is stakeholders' view that tech prep is not a program, but a process of educational reform. (SK)

This paper explores the federal role in the development of state accountability systems for secondary school achievement. The first section of the paper examines seven suggested proximate causes for the poor performance of U.S. secondary school students. This section concludes that the causes for the relatively poor performance of U.S. secondary…

This paper discusses the role of transition in school reform and methodology for developing a Florida database on transition-related programs. It describes procedures for ensuring the validity and reliability of database information sources. Findings from the data collection process, concerning common program terminology and school district size…

In 1992, Massachusetts's Department of Education established five regional alliances throughout the state to support middle-school restructuring and reform. The project began with 50 schools and colleges and grew to include 11 alliances comprised of more than 165 schools and colleges. A statewide case study that describes the alliances, the…

A commission established by Ohio to reduce the number of first-year college students requiring remedial courses recommended updating and standardizing the college preparatory curriculum, improving teacher education, and enhancing communication between students, parents, and educators at all levels. These recommendations, responses to them, and…

Change is in the offing for the entire educational system in Maine, especially for the vocational education system. Observations about the present state of vocational education in the state are offered, and recommendations are made to improve the program. Recommendations include the following: (1) establishment of a comprehensive research section…

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Career Major Project (CMP) is a statewide effort to modify the educational system to help students develop meaningful career goals through their learning experiences in high schools, technical colleges, and universities. This document presents materials used in the project, containing information on…