Since their inception in the 1960s, federally funded workforce development programs have promised a solution to unemployment, labor market skills gaps, and income inequality. However, until recently, lack of data and methodological challenges have made evaluation of these programs difficult. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor in response to…

In this second annual summary of the their work, the Investing in Community Initiative provides practical advice for community leaders and policymakers around four critical issues. First, how should local needs be defined? Chapter 1 argues that data about local economies can show whether communities are best served by creating new jobs,…

Accelerating Opportunity (AO) combined integrated career pathways at two-year colleges with team teaching, acceleration strategies, supportive services, and policy changes. It aimed to help low-skilled adults earn occupational credentials, obtain well-paying jobs, and sustain rewarding careers. This final implementation report documents activities…

Public funding for employment and training has dwindled over the past several decades. Yet in communities all over the United States, there has been considerable development of alternative approaches to help low-income people gain skills for particular industry sectors. In 2003, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Public/Private…

In today's uncertain economy, states and regions are experiencing myriad workforce challenges. In the short run, layoffs and unemployment resulting from the current economic downturn dictate an immediate need for education and training to prepare workers for key occupations. In the long run, states and regions continue to exist in a global economy…

In an effort to inform preschool policy in California, an interdisciplinary team of RAND researchers conducted a multiyear study of preschool education known as the California Preschool Study. One of the recommendations from that study was the need for a more in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of the early care and education (ECE) workforce…

As public and private funders have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of workforce development programs, a myriad of data collection systems and reporting processes have taken shape. Navigating these systems takes significant time and energy and often saps frontline providers' capacity to use data internally for program improvement.…

The federal role in precollege science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is receiving increasing attention in light of the need to support public understanding of science and to develop a strong scientific and technical workforce in a competitive global economy. Federal science agencies, such as the National Aeronautics…

The review of the funding aspect of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 (CETA) under Titles 1 and 2 was conducted by the General Accounting Office (GAO). Title 1 of the Act authorizes comprehensive manpower services to be provided by prime sponsors, and Title 2 is designed to provide transitional employment opportunities and…

Some of the dimensions of the relative financial contribution of the cooperating parties in manpower institutional training as established under the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962 were explored. This analysis will provide some perspective to those who must finally decide the question of relative financial contribution, or provide…

Problems affecting the operation of the Nigerian Skills Acquisition Programme, a secondary school vocational program, were studied through the questionnaire responses of 105 trainees, 50 parents, and 10 administrators. Responses were generally favorable, with some specific suggestions for funding and additional technical and safety equipment. (SLD)

This report summarizes the findings and conclusions from a study designed to identify how European funding supports Learning and Skills Council (LSC) priorities and contributes to LSC targets. The study was carried out between November 2005 and May 2006, and had the three following main components: (1) Consultants examined questionnaires…

This technical assistance guide for offender programs is a guidebook to be used by CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) prime sponsors, state manpower service councils, state manpower planning councils, and Department of Labor (DOL) regional staff concerned about offenders and interested in developing employment and training programs…

One of a series of special studies by Project Baseline, a national effort requested by Congress to gather information about vocational education and manpower training, the report traces the career education movement, beginning with a few isolated State and local activities in the mid-1960's and following it through the decade as it has become…

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) suppports four non-profit units, Area Alcohol Education and Training Programs (AAETP), organized in 1974 to facilitate the delivery of alcohol education and training at the state and local level. In 1976, the NIAAA initiated an evaluation of the AAETP. Goals were to determine…