Despite legal mandates and evidence of predictors of success in transition, there continue to be poor outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to students without disabilities. This article describes the first steps of a quality improvement project, including a needs assessment and description of the current constraints of transition…

It has become increasingly difficult to succeed in the U.S. workforce with only a high school diploma. While 75% of the middle-class workforce had only a high school education in the 1970s, that percentage dropped to below 40% by 2007. An estimated two-thirds of all jobs in 2020 will require some postsecondary training, up from just a quarter of…

Illinois is investing in bridge programs as a strategy to help more low-skilled and low-wage workers improve their skills, acquire postsecondary credentials, and move up to better jobs. This guidebook is built on early lessons of bridge programs in Illinois. It is designed as a resource for those who want to develop a new bridge program or…

As part of an annual program planning process, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) conducts a number of formal and informal consultations with various SIAST stakeholders in order to identify and research future program training needs in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. This Saskatchewan Urban Training Needs…

In January 1990, there were no Pharmacy Technician (PT) programs in Iowa. To determine the need for a PT program in the Eastern Iowa Community College District, a survey was conducted of 958 pharmacy-related businesses in Iowa and the Quad Cities of Illinois believed to be employing PT's. The survey gathered information on personnel employed;…

The California Community Colleges (CCC) use labor market information and student follow-up data for vocational education program development, implementation, and evaluation. In order to justify the development of new programs and the continuation and review of existing programs, the CCC initiated the Labor Market Information (LMI) system in 1987.…

An occupational/technical program needs assessment model is described by which colleges can alter existing programs or develop new ones in anticipation of job market requirements. The report first discusses the two-part (existing and potential programs), tri-level (initial evaluation, individual program screening, and individual program planning),…

To ensure that the new physical therapist assistant (PTA) curriculum at Allegany Community College (Maryland) met current professional needs, a survey was undertaken of establishments likely to employ PTAs. An employer needs questionnaire was returned by 272 establishments (of 1,250 surveyed). Findings indicated that more than half of the…

The Labor Education Achievement Program (LEAP) provided workplace literacy services to 664 union workers in 39 classes at worksites, union halls, and other locations. Students' average age was nearly 40. All had attended some public school; 91 percent had some high school education. Students reported various reasons for enrollment; 90.6 percent…

A survey instrument developed in 1991 by the Massachusetts Job Council to ascertain basic information regarding funds spent on job training and to provide state policymakers with information about those being served and what services are being provided was used as a model to develop a program assessment instrument. The program assessment…

This report on the second year of the Workplace Education Program evaluates 16 programs run by 15 labor unions during the 9-month period between October 1, 1988 and June 30, 1989. The assessment was designed (1) to collect a program-wide database for program documentation; (2) to examine program impact on students' basic literacy skills, on…

A study was conducted to assess trends in the supply and demand for environmental hazardous materials (EHM) technical and related workers and to identify the skills and knowledge required of personnel in these positions. Information for the study was gathered through interviews, focus groups, and data from a mailed survey of employers of EHM…

A study was conducted to identify and analyze the involvement of secondary vocational education and business and industry in joint partnership agreements in Tennessee. Vocational administrators (n=94), teachers (n=53), and business and industry persons (n=22) responded to questionnaires, representing response rates of 81%, 77%, and 39%…

The human resources development plan presented in this report was developed by Cypress College (CC) to increase or refresh the knowledge and skills of classified staff, faculty, and administrators. The report reviews the colleges staff development plan, activities for 1988-89, and plans for 1989-90. Section I provides an overview of CC's staff…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to determine the feasibility of establishing a new human services program with respect to employment potential and student demand for the program. A total of 113 youth service, residential care, community and family service organizations in the area were surveyed to establish a minimum…