One of a series of productivity primers examining the interrelationship among vocational education, productivity, and economic development, this volume consists of a series of 31 quotations by individuals and organizations pertaining to the major issues and concerns involved in the present and future content of vocational education as a major…

Sixteen articles discuss the implications of Australia's Green Paper, a public policy statement recommending substantial changes in the higher education system to improve access. The issues discussed include labor force development, educational equity, women's education, and the financing of higher education. (MSE)

In their 2004 State of the State speeches, the nation's governors cited many issues competing for their attention and their states' resources, including health care, education, crime, and security (Nodine 2004). Among the most compelling challenges were those related to economic development and the ability of a state's workforce to meet the needs…

The impact of 1996 federal welfare reform legislation on state work force development programs was examined through a study of work force development programs and policies in 13 states: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. The study focused on…

In February 2003, 75 individuals representing business, labor, academia, government, workforce intermediaries, and other sectors participated in an assembly on the role of intermediaries in achieving worker success and business prosperity. The assembly statement outlined policies, approaches, and actions needed to ensure workers' access to…

The bulk of this position paper consists of statements in opposition to a September 2001 referendum on adopting 'right-to-work' (RTW) legislation in Oklahoma. The statements are by Joan Fitzgerald, William Sschweke, Raymond Hogler, Steven Shulman, Stephan Weiler, Ann Markusen, Robert G. Lynch, David R. Howell, James Galbraith, Colin Gordon, Wim…

The United States will not be competitive in the global economy of the 21st century without a technically trained work force. Community colleges and secondary schools offering technical programs are becoming increasingly important to local businesses as companies rely on a combination of schools and on-the-job training to help their employees…

This document presents the findings of the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice regarding the role, education, and supply of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The first section of the report examines the following eight background issues: (1) early development of the CNS; (2) current CNS supply; (3) roles and impact of the…

This congressional report contains testimony given in relation to the passage of the Vocational and Adult Education Consolidation Act (S. 2325). (The Vocational and Adult Education Consolidation Act is legislation designed to consolidate existing federal vocational and adult education programs, to simplify requirements for states and other…

This congressional hearing contains testimony given in Montpelier, Vermont, at the first of a series of nationwide hearings on vocational education. Focus of this particular hearing is on the specific needs of Vermont as a rural northeastern state to train a workforce that is talented enough to help retrain existing businesses and industry and…

In the United States today, too many hardworking people are unable to earn enough through work to support their families. Policymakers can help change this situation by taking the following steps: (1) keep work central; (2) promote family-supporting work; (3) invest in education and work skills; (4) make it easier for individuals to stay employed…

Well-organized career information, guidance, and counseling services are important both to education systems, the labor market, and their interface. Career education is important within compulsory education because it lays the foundations for lifelong career development. In postcompulsory education, well-organized career information, guidance, and…

From a macroeconomic perspective, the evolving demand for skills in the United States has been triggered by the accelerated expansion of computer and information technology, which has, in turn, brought significant changes to the workplace. Technological advances have made some wholly manual jobs obsolete. But even for many other workers, a rapidly…

Wisconsin's welfare reform program, which is called Wisconsin Works or W-2, emphasizes work over education. Wisconsin's welfare reform policy caused the numbers of Wisconsin welfare recipients attending college to shrink by thousands in the mid-1990s. In contrast, increasing numbers of states are coming to realize how much flexibility they really…

The vocational education system was started in the United States by a collaborative effort of employers, educators, and unions. If vocational education is to meet the critical skill needs of industry, Federal policies providing for broader governance and an incremental approach to the planning and delivery of vocational education programs are…