The United States economy currently suffers a significant skills gap in its workforce, one that approaches crisis proportions. This skills gap (Christo-Baker et al., 2017; King et al., 2017; Laboissiere & Mourshed, 2017) will have profound effects on future U.S. economic growth and, by extension, on global economic growth. Researchers have…

Despite the growing popularity of WBL, the community college and workforce development fields need greater transparency and clarity on the design of these programs to broaden workforce pathways, ensure the transferability of exemplary program models, and support the advancement of equitable outcomes for all students, especially learners from…

As postsecondary programs grow for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (SwIDD), there is an increased focus on program evaluation and effectiveness, specifically related to impact on employment outcomes. Ohio's Statewide Consortium (OSC) of postsecondary programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on many facets of students' successful transitions from secondary into postsecondary education, particularly for students who depend on in-person delivery of content and experience. For many young people, paid work-based learning has historically provided a needed source of income, and its…

In recent years, career/technical education (CTE) has risen to the top of the education policy agenda for governors, legislators, and agency heads. As a result of informed interest among key education leaders, the CTE policies and programs being advocated and implemented today bear little resemblance to those in place not long ago. Among the…

This brief begins with a discussion of the composition of state leadership teams and organizing structures for supporting a Pathways to Prosperity Network initiative, and then describes effective strategies currently at play in the network states for jumpstarting work in the regions. It goes on to review state policies that support 9-14…

Work experiences are a critical component of preparing youth for transition to adulthood. Potential benefits for youth who participate in work experiences include: 1) gaining career readiness skills including the "soft skills" that employers look for in entry level workers; 2) increasing one's knowledge of specific occupational skills…

The guide is designed to aid the instructor in implementing the student guide entitled "Supervised Occupational Experience Record Book For Agricultural Resource Conservation, Environmental Management and Forestry". Intended for use in the secondary level vocational agriculture curriculum, general concepts, student record-keeping skills,…

Stating that no vocational education program demands greater commitment from teachers than the work experience program, the author describes from personal experience with the Ohio Occupational Work Experience program the many roles of the teacher-coordinator in keeping the potential dropout in school and employed. (MF)

A STUDY OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR VOCATIONAL HORTICULTURE STUDENTS WAS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE KINDS OF HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS AND THE TYPES AND SCOPE OF EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS OFFERED AND OBTAIN TEACHER APPRAISALS OF THE EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS WHICH SHOULD BE REQUIRED AND THE FACILITIES NEEDED TO PROVIDE SATISFACTORY PROGRAMS. OF 25 SCHOOLS…

The record book was designed to meet the occupational experience recordkeeping requirements of vocational agriculture students enrolled in forestry, environmental management, or agriculture resource conservation programs in Ohio. It provides guidelines and forms for recording on-the-job, in-the-school lab, and occupational experience project data.…

Ohio's Work SITE Learning Model is the product of a national demonstration project for the integration of academic and vocational learning, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The model is made up of three components: the connecting component, the school-based learning component, and the work-based learning component. This implementation…

The effect of four Occupational Work Adjustment (OWA) programs on risk factors leading to students dropping out of high school was assessed. Data were gathered from four OWA teachers in high schools in Northwest Ohio; information was provided for 27 individual students and 2 groups of 28 students each for the 1992-93 school year. The following…

In January 1970, the Department of Labor restructured its Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) out-of-school program and made age limits for entering the program more restrictive. Education, skill training, and work experience were emphasized. The restructured NYC-2 program was carried out in urban or growth areas, but the original NYC-1 program was…

This implementation guide for Career Pathways (an Ohio educational plan linking academic, technological, and occupational course work and other educational experiences, leading to a career specialty) is a resource for leaders planning and implementing career pathways in vocational education planning districts and school districts. The document…