This report examines the structural divide between for-credit and noncredit postsecondary education and the problems it presents for people seeking better jobs with higher pay. It highlights innovative ways that some community colleges are trying to bridge the gap nationally--creating more seamless pathways between credit and noncredit…

A college education is becoming more and more of a necessity in today's competitive economy: ninety percent of the fastest-growing jobs require postsecondary education or training. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has called on states, institutions and the federal government to work together to carry out the recommendations of "A…

Educational practices focus on institutional structure, be it high school or college. No matter how closely the career education with business and industry, that is not enough. The career path for the student should begin in high school and seamlessly continue through college. In this article, the author discusses how this could become possible.…

On August 30, 2006, Montana state educational and policy leaders participated in the Montana Education Forum to discuss ways to improve student transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The forum was sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and…

On August 1, 2006, Hawaii state educational and policy leaders participated in the Hawaii Education Forum to discuss ways to improve student transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The forum was sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and supported…

Community colleges traditionally have been a nexus for transitions to and from the workforce. This article examines horizontal and vertical workforce transitions and how a global economy and the need to train new subpopulations of future workers will cause community colleges to approach their roles in workforce training differently. There are too…

This document describes the activities at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois, to recruit and train special needs students in academic and vocational programs. The final objective of the activities, begun in June 1988 and funded by a Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) grant, was that the students would leave the educational program…

Describes a transition program at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind that helps 18- to 21-year olds bridge the gap between high school and adult life. Through multi-agency collaboration, students can take advantage of a community college educational program and learn independent living skills. (CR)

As the number and diversity of high school graduates increase, secondary school systems and colleges must work together to prepare students for the demands of higher education and the labor force. This document describes a partnership between Montgomery College (Maryland) and Montgomery County Public School district that is focused on student…

This case study examines the relationships of three organizations participating in the Northwest Wisconsin School-To-Work Consortium, and analyzes the consortium's development over the past 4 years. Signed into law in May 1994, the federal School-To-Work Opportunities Act marked the beginning of a new educational movement to better prepare…

The structure and perceived benefits of the cooperative education programs offered by two-year colleges in Cincinnati, Ohio, were examined in a study in which 66 representatives of 54 area firms and 25 individuals from 7 community colleges were interviewed in 1993. Cincinnati's co-op programs were found to vary significantly in their structure.…

This final report describes activities and achievements of the EASE (Equal Access for Students to Education and Experience) Project, a 3-year model demonstration project on transition of students with disabilities at seven community colleges in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota. The program served 550-600 students and focused on providing support…

The paper describes background and findings of a study of postsecondary educational programs and services for visually impaired persons in Mississippi. The study focuses on three topics: (1) the status of special adaptive programs in such areas as vocational-technical education, community college, junior college education, and 4-year college…

Community colleges represent the ideal location for building the high skilled workforce needed in a "high tech" society since they are community-based and responsive to local needs. In ensuring a well-prepared workforce, it is important that the link between elementary and secondary systems and community colleges be strengthened and…

This paper presents information to assist students with learning disabilities (LD), counselors, and employers in building a bridge between community college and employment. It argues that students must learn to articulate how their LD affects them in a variety of situations, especially those requiring learning and performing work related tasks.…