A study examined European Social Fund (ESF)-funded middle-level technician (MLT) and higher technical and business skills (HTBS) courses at Irish technical colleges. Data were obtained from the following: review of relevant literature; review of all program-monitoring documents submitted by Ireland's Department of Education since 1990; interviews…

Ireland's vocational preparation and training (VPT) program was evaluated to determine its effectiveness in achieving the general/specific objectives specified in Ireland's national development plan, responsiveness to local needs, outcomes, and future challenges. The data collection activities were organized in three phases as follows: exploratory…

This yearbook provides educators with current research and practical guidelines for improving the education of teacher candidates and beginning teachers. The book has four sections, each on a particular topic and containing an overview and a response (reflections and implications). The first section focuses on contexts for effective field…

Over the past 2 decades, the inflation-adjusted median weekly earnings of full-time employed males and females decreased by 31% and 13%, respectively, and the deterioration in the real weekly earnings of young adults (ages 18-24) shows no signs of abatement. Male high school dropouts and graduates with no postsecondary schooling experienced the…

This study examined the impact of 3 years of full inclusion of students with severe disabilities in a Lansing (Michigan) high school. Teacher and parent surveys as well as observations of student interactions and classrooms were used to evaluate inclusion of seven students with low-incidence disabilities (autistic impairment, trainable mental…

The Sweetwater National Workplace Literacy Project was undertaken to develop the following: (1) industry/company-specific individualized literacy skills training for currently employed adults and (2) individualized, preemployment workplace literacy and job-specific skills training for unemployed or underemployed adults. The following site-specific…

Training in the motor vehicle repair and sales sector in the Netherlands was examined in a study that included the following approaches: review of the sector's structure/characteristics, institutional and social context, employment practices, changing conditions, and available education and training; in-depth case studies of four auto repair shops…

Training in the retail sector throughout the 12 European Community (EC) member countries was examined through in-depth case studies of 55 retail firms that were selected as representing a wide range of firm types (19 multinational, 36 national, 4 cooperative, 7 family-owned firms), forms of retailing (department stores, supermarkets, and chain and…

The BUILD Program (Businesses United to Increase Literacy Development) was conducted from June 1991 through December 1992 as a cooperative workplace literacy program joining Arapahoe Community College and four companies in Littleton, Colorado. During the project, staff were hired, equipment was ordered and installed, literacy task analyses were…

The Workplace Education Program (WEP) was a literacy partnership between Emily Griffith Opportunity School and 5 business partners at 11 sites in Denver, Colorado. All of the business partners were in the health care sector. A total of 907 individuals were served during the project grant period. Of those individuals, 226 attended supplementary…

The Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools foreign language program for K-12 is described and evaluated. The evaluation report focuses on six areas, including: (1) school district mission and philosophy of foreign language instruction; (2) context (state policies and standards, foreign language program overview and enrollment, fiber-optic communication…

Florida's community college and school district postsecondary adult vocational programs in fire fighter training and fire science technology were subjected to a statewide program review. Efforts were made to reach Florida's entire community of career and volunteer fire fighters. Data were collected in the following ways: site interviews with…

This volume, Interim Report No. 3 in a 3-year study, considers literacy programs designed to qualify employees for promotions or professional advancement. It adopts a multidimensional definition of moving ahead, one that extends to monetary rewards, career development, and employment security. The volume is divided into two parts: report and case…

The effectiveness of school-to-work (STW) in Wisconsin was examined through a review of the data from the following sources: STW implementation reports; follow-up surveys of youth apprenticeship graduates, parents, and employers; and telephone interviews with curriculum directors from 45 Wisconsin school districts. Of the practices and innovative…

During 1992-93, 170,146 secondary and 140,681 postsecondary students were enrolled in secondary-level vocational training (VT) programs throughout Florida. A total of 12,545 single parents, displaced homemakers, and single pregnant women received VT-related services. Nontraditional vocational training programs served 2,995 females and 476 males.…