In order to assess how completely a Small Learning Community (SLC) and/or Career Academy is implemented in any given site, and to connect the degree of implementation with the amount of improvement in student performance, two kinds of information are needed. The first is information on the quality of implementation, which can be collected by…

This handbook is designed to provide practical aid to those who have charge of the planning and organization of a youth conference, Defined as a conference to provide practical information as well as information about possible responsibilities, risks, and consequences of actions, related to the chosen conference topic. Suggestions are given for…

Written for planners and practitioners in employability skills development programs, this handbook provides information and resources for designing and implementing competency-based instruction. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to basic terms and concepts that make up a competency-based system. It describes four skills required for one to be…

An established goal of the Michigan Department of Education is that annual and long-range educational planning will be improved and expanded. The purpose of this Program Review/Planning Handbook is to recommend procedures and instrumentation through which educators at the local level may plan and conduct a program review and prepare and implement…

This guide provides information on how to plan, implement, and evaluate staff development programs for adult basic education teachers, administrators, volunteers, and aides. It is divided into sections that deal with various components of a staff developmental program: (1) background information; (2) planning; (3) implementation; (4) evaluation;…

This document presents four case studies illustrating how selected high schools from across the country have implemented the career academy model schoolwide. The case studies profile the career academies of the following schools: (1) Ben Franklin High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); (2) Oak Grove High School (San Jose, California); (3) South…

This guide explains how U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies can join the 20 other USDA agencies that have implemented 18 adopt-a-school partnerships throughout the country. The following are among the topics discussed in the guide's five parts: (1) partnership basics (how adopt-a-school programs benefit both members of the…

This manual is intended to assist volunteers and staff of volunteer organizations in the design of projects in various community and social service areas. The first section of the manual is a guidebook that addresses such aspects of the planning, implementation, and evaluation process as situational analysis, needs assessment, task-oriented…

This guide presents information and materials to help youth programs manage program intake, design an individual service strategy (ISS) as mandated in the Workforce Investment Act, and manage case files. The materials are based on information obtained from staff working in seven successful youth workforce investment programs in Maryland,…

Workplace mentoring has been identified as an important aspect of work-based learning in projects conducted under the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. By establishing relationships with caring and competent adults who can provide emotional support and facilitate skill development, less-experienced youths and adults are more likely to bridge the…

This document, which is intended to provide technical assistance to individuals responsible for integrating year-round and summer employment and training services for youth under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), contains case studies of eight employment and training programs that have already or are in the process of integrating their summer…

This document is a practical manual to assist community-based organizations and coalitions in using voluntary industry skill standards in programs preparing people for success in the workplace and further education. The following are among the topics covered in the manual's six sections: (1) developing and maintaining systems (things partners can…