A startling number of students arrive at the doors of colleges and universities lacking the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed there. If given the proper tools and supports, the great majority of these students would be able to achieve their goals in and outside of the classroom. But most of them are shuttled off to developmental…

This paper presents one perspective on a new methodology of program evaluation which defines four phases corresponding to the operational life of a school program. Examples and results are discussed in terms of relevance to basic skills improvement efforts and cost-effects. (LMO)

This article provides an initial look at the matches and mismatches between expectations held for vocational education programs and empirically observed outcomes. Three types of claims for vocational education were compared with recent research. The article concludes with recommendations for improving the alignment between expectations and…

Intsika Yesizwe, an institution intended to help early school leavers acquire the skills needed to compete successfully in the job market, was founded in Ciskei in 1981 to deal with the problem of large numbers of pupils leaving school at an early age. Intsika Yesizwe was founded under the supervision of the Ciskei Special Forces, and in 1983…

A study examined the degree to which states are working on integrating vocational-technical education and instruction in basic academic skills. Usable information was provided by 29 of the 30 states contacted. Nearly all of the states belong to one or more of the various consortia developing the applied math, communications, principles of…

During the 1986-1987 school year, a study was undertaken to examine four issues that are critical to business and office occupations education (BOE) in Connecticut. These issues were whether (1) the primary purpose of secondary BOE should be to prepare students for specific occupations or to prepare students for other goals; (2) standard…

This report, the fifth in a series of studies of South Carolina's vocational education system, summarizes the results of a recent mail survey of more than 1,200 employers throughout the state regarding their perceptions of and experiences with vocational education, its graduates, and entry-level workers. Some of the results of the survey were as…

This report on an internal evaluation, which was conducted for developmental purposes, describes services provided at the Learning Skills Centres (LSC) on three separate campuses of Grant MacEwan Community College, in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). The key questions of the evaluation addressed student and staff awareness of the existence of the LSC;…

The level of basic education skills among Nevada's adult work force and the effects of workers' basic skill levels on Nevada businesses were examined in a 1994 survey of 2,021 Nevada businesses employing 10 or more workers. Of the 1,163 businesses responding, 696 reported having 1 or more unskilled employees during May 1994. Of those 696…

Personal interviews were conducted with persons involved in the hiring process in 60 companies throughout Ohio to determine what qualities they seek when they hire young, inexperienced workers at beginning skilled or semiskilled levels. Companies, selected to represent all sections of the state, varied in size. The study found the following: (1)…

A study was conducted to determine the relative effectiveness of the traditional and infused (computer-assisted instruction or CAI) approach to basic skills instruction for students in a vocational education program. The sample for the study consisted of 41 male students in the air conditioning/refrigeration program at the Houston Community…

This study was conducted to assess the educational needs of Wisconsin adults aged 16 years and older who had not graduated from and were not attending high school or had not received a high school equivalency credential. The project staff interviewed 1,680 Wisconsin residents who met these criteria by telephone, using computerized random digit…

This report presents results from the Florida State Board of Community Colleges' review of Criminal Justice programs. A preface indicates that concerns related to crime in the state provided the impetus for the review and that it focused on issues related to curricula, funding and costs, labor demand and employment requirements, and labor supply.…

The work performed by New Jersey's Minimum Basic Skills Advisory Committee in studying the state's remedial programs is described. The committee's findings are summarized, as are its recommendations for enhancing program effectiveness. Descriptions of data collection activities involve interviews with representative school districts, major…

This report represents a synthesis of existing data on the basic skills of vocational students. An introduction provides background information, lists objectives, and describes the framework and methodology for the literature review and acquisition and analysis of four data bases: National Assessment of Education Progress, Supplemental…