This manual is designed to assist school personnel, employers, parents/guardians, and students in understanding the policies and procedures required to operate effective occupational work experience (OWE) programs. The OWE mission statement appears first. Chapter I describes the OWE program, its structure, types of program organization, and…

This study addressed the perceptions of isolation among high school principals in Georgia. The data collection process, in which interviews were conducted, provided insight into the lived experiences of 10 principals. One of the findings was that high school principals were relieved, in a sense, to discuss their perceptions of the…

A self-assessment questionnaire is presented in this document for use by high school administrators collecting information on which to base recommendations and plans for improving the effectiveness of cooperative work experience (CWE) programs. A format for assessment in each of the following areas is given: characteristics of students, staff, and…

Because schools are often the biggest employers in rural areas, it may make sense for rural schools to initiate economic development partnerships with the community, rather than wait for business to take the initiative, as is more commonly the case with urban school-business partnerships. This booklet reports findings of a national research…

This manual is designed to assist school personnel, employers, parents/guardians, and students in understanding the policies and procedures required to operate effective diversified cooperative training (DCT) and diversified cooperative health occupations (DCHO) programs. Chapter I describes DCT/DCHO programs, their structure, types of program…

National dropou figures hover around 46 percent, according to the U.S. Office of Education. School business partnerships, including occupational training, counseling, and preemployment experience, have been effective in reducing the dropout rate in many schools. The use of computers in teaching traditional subjects has proved attractive to…

A community based (Conejo Valley, California) vocational program was designed to give handicapped junior and senior high school students a variety of real world experiences in the natural setting. Advantages of the community based approach include immediate transfer of learning, opportunities for generalization, provision of role models by other…

This document comprises part 2 of a two-part evaluation of the third-year implementation of the New York City Board of Education's 3-year high school Dropout Prevention Initiative (DPI). It consists of reports on 8 special substudies of the program in year 3 (part 1 describes the DPI and presents the evaluation findings and recommendations.) The…

The final report describes The Realistic Transition Project, a 3-year project designed to help mildly handicapped 17 to 21-year-olds in the transition from school to competitive employment. Social skills necessary for seeking and maintaining employment and money management skills were two important curriculum components. Specific objectives and…

This report discusses sheltered workshop programming and high school-level vocational training for mentally retarded (MR) individuals in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Sheltered workshops conducted by Goodwill Industries and Parc-way Industries were examined to determine client characteristics and the rate of placement in competitive employment.…

An independent evaluation of the Career Explorations program found it to be worthy of both continuation and replication. Career Explorations is a summer youth program operated by Hunter College (New York) in cooperation with The Coalition of 100 Black Women, and supported by The Commonwealth Fund. Its aim is to help minority New York City high…

Career academies are high school programs that frame academic learning around a career focus in order to increase student motivation and achievement. They generally have three defining features: a school-within-a-school structure, a college preparation curriculum with a career theme, and partnerships with employers, the community, and higher…

The Northwest Territories (NWT) Senior Practice Program (SPP) described in this manual is designed to develop self-direction, self-esteem, and skills and knowledge in specific practical areas. The secondary school SPP prepares at-risk students, at least 15 years old, for work. The program has both practical and academic components. This…

A brief description is provided of ways in which vocational programs have been modified for handicapped students at Portsmouth High School (New Hampshire). Examples are: (1) regular vocational programs with support services and modification curriculum; (2) special vocational programs in which pre-vocational entry level skills are developed prior…

Extended Campus is a partnership between education and the private sector that allows high school students an opportunity to acquire core employment skills applicable to a cluster of occupations. The program is also intended to stimulate and sustain a symbiotic partnership between education and the private sector. During their participation in…