This report summarizes the two-year findings of a rigorous random assignment evaluation of the WorkAdvance model, a sectoral training, and advancement initiative. Launched in 2011, WorkAdvance goes beyond the previous generation of employment programs by introducing demand-driven skills training and a focus on jobs that have career pathways. The…

The applied dissertation project focused on the development of a comprehensive onboarding program and Trainer's Guide specifically developed for charter school management employees. Charter school education has grown significantly in the last several decades with over 6,100 charter schools that are currently serving students nationwide. Formal or…

Psychometrically sound evaluation measures are vital for examining the contribution of professional training to organizational success in a reliable manner. As training evaluations tend to be both time-consuming and labor-intensive, there is an increasing demand for economic evaluation inventories. Simultaneously, evaluation measures have to meet…

This article examines Extension professionals building community capacity in 10 counties across five Appalachian states in response to the talent crisis in the United States information technology (IT) workforce. The goal has been to transfer IT knowledge and create a supportive environment to foster interest in IT careers among underserved girls…

In efforts to reform the child welfare system, agency leaders must involve staff at all levels; yet, little research has been done to determine which organizational factors encourage or inhibit staff engagement. Employees from an urban child welfare agency were invited to complete a survey regarding organizational effectiveness and its influence…

The characteristics of a leadership development challenge for America's community colleges have been well-documented in the literature. A worldwide population aging trend, college leader retirements, and an ineffective system for new leader development have led to predictions of a shortfall in well-trained leaders at all levels of community…

This report presents a detailed assessment of the extent to which "The Pittsburgh Promise"--a postsecondary education scholarship intended to remedy the area's population decline, foster high school completion and college readiness among Pittsburgh district students, and prepare a capable and energetic workforce for the city--has met its…

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…

The study focuses on the effectiveness of adult basic education under the Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA). The investigation is a case study of the MDTA adult basic education program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Background material on basic education for adults is provided as well as a short history of the federal government's involvement…

Focusing on the evaluation of outcomes ("cost benefit analysis") in large scale social action programs, this paper examines issues relating to the adequacy of theory and methodology as well as the impact of different types of persons (academics, politicians, program administrators) involved in the evaluation process. Problems of evaluation…

This nationwide study to determine the cost-effectiveness of the Neighborhood Youth Corps Program (NYC) is based on participants from projects in operation during fiscal year 1965-66 and 1966-67. Out of the original 1,120 projects 60 were randomly selected, 20 from the three regions--north, south, and west. The sample size of the participants was…

Designed for evaluation and program planning and budgeting, the model presented herein provides a framework for estimating the contribution of individual manpower services in increasing the earning potential of manpower trainees with various sets of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The model shows how to maximize total increase in…

This report contains an analysis of the Work Incentive Program (WIN) termination data collected and maintained by the Department of Labor, specifically the Office of Manpower Management Data Systems (OMMDS). WIN projects enrolled their first clients in October 1968, nearly 6,000 people. By the end of March 1970, there were approximately 150,000…

The methodology to perform benefit-cost studies exists, but there is much ambiguity concerning the implications of such studies as a result of using faulty methodology. For example, control groups are a necessity, as are adequate sampling procedures and adjustment for non-response bias and self-selection bias, and all studies do not employ this…

AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO ESTABLISH A BASIS FOR EVALUATING THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL COSTS AND RETURNS ACCRUING FROM INVESTMENT IN RURAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. A SERIES OF STATISTICAL FORMULAS WAS DEVELOPED AND TESTED ON QUESTIONNAIRE DATA SUPPLIED BY 359 GRADUATES AND TRAINEES OF THE WINONA AREA TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN MINNESOTA. THE NINE PROGRAM AREAS OF…