The need for a flexible and versatile workforce that is constantly learning and upgrading its skills has led to a continual demand for courses in which employees are re-trained and updated on a lifelong basis. Students and workers now have to be prepared for a labour market in which they can be expected to change jobs many times, and they need to…

The article examines the three proposals put forward by the Schools Council for Curriculum and Examinations to change the examination structure for school leavers in Great Britain: the 16-plus examination, the Certificate of Extended Education, and the 18-plus examination. (MW)

The paper explains the role of the Schools Council for the Curriculum and Examinations and how it functions in relation to the education system, discusses areas of reform, and presents a brief review of the Schools Councils proposals for a new examination structure. (MW)

This document is the first of a two-part series designed to help teachers, schools, and districts to implement standards-based instruction. Part 1, The Foundation for Improvement, explains why standards-based instruction improves teaching and learning. Part 2, First Steps to a Standards-Based Classroom, describes how to adapt the curriculum to…

The objectives and development of the skill standards movement were examined along with 22 pilot projects that were undertaken as part of an effort to promote the development of a national system of voluntary industry-based skill standards. First, the past and present of the skill standards movement and certification practices were analyzed along…

Britain's Further Education Unit (FEU) has been working with numerous individuals and organizations in the further education (FE) sector to develop a common framework for post-14 education and training throughout the nation for the 21st century. The framework proposed by FEU provides for all achievement and awards in FE programs to be described in…

Three areas of concern for those considering competency-based graduation requirements are discussed. First, what is involved in implementing a competency-based graduation requirement? The first tasks are the specification of performance standards and the performance skill areas. Then, appropriate certification procedures can be selected, and their…

This document details Wisconsin's state plan for implementation of activities mandated by the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 and funded by a grant from the National School-to-Work Opportunities Act. The plan is divided into 23 sections dealing with the following topics: geographical areas; local support/expansion of school-to-work…

This workbook, which is designed primarily for secondary school administrators involved in planning youth apprenticeship programs, explains approaches to youth apprenticeship that have evolved from operation of the Pickens County Youth Apprenticeship Initiative (PCYAI) in Easley, South Carolina. Discussed first are guiding principles regarding the…

This document is intended to inform and advise the development and operation of campuswide information technology (IT) education and training programs at two-year colleges belonging to the EnterpriseOhio Network (EON). The report is based on information from the following sources: a comprehensive national literature review; an environmental scan…