Since 1973, the real weekly wage position of employed young adults (under age 25) has deteriorated considerably, particularly among young men. A comprehensive and systematic strategy is needed to improve labor market outcomes for young adults as they move from high school into the labor market. (JOW)

The controversy surrounding the potential storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is discussed. Arguments about the stability of the site and the groundwater situation are summarized. The role of the U.S. Department of Energy and other political considerations are described. (CW)

Discusses public sector information technology (IT) funding problems, focusing on ways to improve government budgeting for IT. Presents three broad categories of insights from a Harvard workshop: Proposals to Improve Participation in the IT Budgeting Process; Proposals to Develop Better IT Investment Portfolios; Proposals to Utilize…

A range of work-related training and education opportunities is being offered by employers and federal sources to meet the demand for continuous learning. They include one-stop career centers, Hope scholarships, lifetime learning credit, Pell grants, student loans, exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance, and America's Learning…

Reports on the success of the National Security Education Program, a federal program to encourage the study of language and countries of strategic importance to the United States. The program has supported more than 1,250 undergraduates and 620 graduates in study abroad. Critics decry its management by the Department of Defense and the involvement…

Describes the comprehensive Welsh system of education and training, including a national career information and guidance service. The system focuses on credit-based qualifications and a holistic approach to academic and vocational learning. (SK)

Current federally supported technical assistance priorities and operations are not well aligned with the school-improvement process. This article discusses technical assistance centers' organization, funding, and size; the topics they address; the recipients, gatekeepers, and trainers they work with; convening services provided; coordination…

Focuses on the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services Library Programs. Discusses what and whom the National Endowment supports, applying for a grant, grantmaking programs, research and education, and includes a list of state humanities councils. Three tables show LSTA funding, national leadership…

Technology is a funding priority among federal education programs, which provide schools with networking capabilities and students with Internet access. Other programs include Star Schools (targeting underserved students), the Technology Literacy Challenge, and the 1997 Telecommunications Act providing E-Rate discounts. State technology funding…

The Department of Education's Inspector General has identified and prosecuted 17 cases where borrowers received large amounts in student loans by claiming falsely to be pursuing studies at foreign institutions. Officials see serious statutory, regulatory, and program deficiencies that may expose programs to more fraud and abuse. Critics feel the…

Over the past year, the National Academies have established a Board on Science Education (BOSE). This marks a major restructuring of the portion of the National Research Council (NRC) that deals with science education. As the first chair of BOSE, the author describes in this column the new structure and advantages of this board and discusses some…

This Congressional hearing report is intended to provide a broad overview of the current state of higher education and establish a foundation for future hearings on more specific topics concerned with the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Issues addressed in the report include: costs of going to college; characteristics of those who go…

The Independent Review Panel of the National Assessment of Chapter 1 recommends fundamental changes to the program, while endorsing its continuing vital role in meeting the special educational needs of poor and disadvantaged students. The program's focus on low-level basic skills, funding systems that discourage highest-level performance, money…

This document summarizes the following eight-component framework of the Commission on Chapter 1 for restructuring the Chapter 1 program: (1) have states set clear, high standards for all students; (2) devise new systems for schools to assess progress toward standards; (3) inform parents about how well their children are progressing toward…

This paper identifies issues that underlie student financing of education in the health professions in terms of the interrelationships and interactions between financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act and Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. Section 1 provides background to the issues by describing…