Public vocational education is described and the strengths and weaknesses of the program are examined. Alternative roles of the federal government are discussed and recommendations are made for increasing the effectiveness of vocational education. Federal support is viewed as being essential for program improvement of vocational education. (Author)

A review of the International Military Education and Training (IMET) Program, which trains foreign military personnel in skills related to equipment provided to their countries by the United States, is reported in this document. The review sought to determine whether the Departments of State and Defense had complied with program policies and…

Findings and recommendations of the Executive Panel of the Ford Foundation Project on Social Welfare and the American Future are presented. The research was based on a comprehensive review of Americans' social welfare needs and of policy alternatives. The findings show that, although the present system was well conceived, it is now outdated and…

Some of the major issues related to planning evaluations of federal human services national demonstration programs are discussed. Barriers to conducting evaluations are discussed for the policy level and cross-site and within-site evaluation contexts. Among the proposed solutions is the use of an explicit programmatic developmental sequence. (SLD)

This essay discusses the federal role in the improvement of educational practice nationally and at the local level, the role and influence of federal or other national program evaluations on local curriculum decisions, and the differences in role perceptions between federal and local school district officials. (CT)

People in all urban areas want a well-balanced system of urban recreation opportunities which include neighborhood facilities and programs for all segments of the population. Federal programs must immediately consider and attempt to improve the present state of urban recreation and park programs. (CJ)

Analysis of the history of Chapter 1, the Federal program for the education of the disadvantaged, and a review of the research into the program's effectiveness show the inefficiency of Federal influence and funds in local schools. Chapter 1 has done little good for students: it has neither raised the achievement of the educationally deprived and…

Title IV-B of the Social Security Act authorizes federal funding for services to help families address problems leading to child abuse and neglect and prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families. Subpart 1 of Title IV-B provides funds for almost any child welfare activity, but has statutory limits on foster care maintenance and…

This 7-chapter report reviews unemployment among migrant and refugee youth in Australia, examines the employment and training programs that exist for this population, identifies unmet needs, and suggests programs or services to meet those needs. An overview of the labor market programs and services available is contained in Chapter 2. Chapters 1…

Welfare reform must include reform of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which is more costly and faster growing than Aid to Families with Dependent Children. SSI allows growing numbers of disabled citizens to depend on the government in spite of new employment opportunities for the disabled and protective legislation. (SLD)

The principles espoused by the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) may lead to a severe negative effect on Hispanic American participation rates. Decentralization erodes Federal oversight over targeting and monitoring efforts, thus endangering equal access to training programs by the disadvantaged and minorities. Hispanic, small, and minority…

Identification of problems encountered by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and development of recommendations to improve administrative and programmatic effectiveness of OIE were goals of this study, prepared by a team from the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE). Information for evaluation was obtained from 20 survey forms…

Research shows that well trained and educated early child care and education (ECCE) workers are key to helping children in care reach their full developmental potential. Federal and state governments spend billions of dollars each year to improve ECCE programs, including the quality of its caregivers and teachers. Because of the importance of this…

Since vocational education is part of the secondary educational system, a system that is presently under close scrutiny and looking for ways to improve, it is appropriate to determine what the federal role might be in helping to achieve excellence in secondary vocational education. Federal policy has helped to shape secondary vocational education…

This report, along with its supplemental volumes, assesses the welfare system and its successes and failures, describes the frustrations felt by the poor in the United States, and proposes a basic change in public assistance policy. America's state and federal governments spend more than $150 billion a year on programs to alleviate poverty, yet…