Six pilot worksite-based projects funded by the Department of Labor are described: preparing for metalworking careers in Pennsylvania; Workforce Los Angeles Youth Academy; Boston's Project Protech, preparation for health care careers; Maryland projects for manufacturing technology careers, high school tech prep, and at-risk youth; National…

A total of 246 parents and educators of deaf students, rehabilitation specialists, and deaf adults were surveyed regarding obstacles to school-to-community transitions for youth in the Pacific Northwest. Results are delineated for three groups: deaf individuals, hard-of-hearing individuals, and deaf multihandicapped individuals. (Author/PB)

This article looks at vocationalism in higher education in terms of three stages of vocationalism in western Europe. It also examines the shifting legitimacy toward vocationalism, new forms of stratification in the academic profession, and vocationalism as a response to "massification" of higher education. (DB)

Developing national academic standards may improve students' preparation for work or college. However, any proposed new national assessment system will be doomed to failure if seen as the cure-all for the country's educational ills. The contributors to this "NASSP Bulletin" issue examine numerous challenges associated with using tests as a tool to…

A survey of 36 adolescents with mild disabilities and 37 professional educators revealed perceptions of a significantly low level of existing transition instruction and services but a high level of perceived need for such services. High level perceived needs included job maintenance skills, parent training, self-advocacy, individual transition…

Describes a study of the educational attitudes of junior and senior middle school students in Guangzhou and Xi'an, China. Reveals desires among students to continue their educations. Reports that among junior middle school graduates, there is a growing willingness to allow vocational orientation to govern educational orientation. (SG)

A survey of 155 Canadian economics graduate students in 17 institutions found most came from high-income families and generally had leftist political attitudes. They share attitudes with U.S. economics graduate students more than with Canadian or U.S. professionals, and favor learning of technical skills over learning about institutions, history,…

Britain's response to unemployment includes initiatives for 16- to 19-year-old school leavers and Open University/Colleges for adults. Although open learning principles underlie these programs, it is essential that continuing education be viewed more broadly than through its work-based aspects alone. (SK)

Uses Greek data for 1981 and 1985 to test screening hypothesis by replicating method proposed by Psacharopoulos. Credentialism, or sheepskin effect of education, directly challenges human capital theory, which views education as a productivity augmenting process. Results do not support the strong version of the screening hypothesis and suggest…

This article presents a conceptual model for analyzing the process of implementing policies for school-to-work transition of individuals with disabilities. The model identifies explicit and implicit directives, describes policies and practices, contrasts practices with policy directives, assesses quality of local implementation, and identifies…

In European countries, postcompulsory general education programs leading to higher education have traditionally been separate from vocational training programs leading to employment. Recent reforms have led to cooperation and sometimes integration between general and vocational programs and their school-leaving certificates. (KS)

The Secretary of Labor suggests that, to create the well-educated, well-trained, highly-skilled, and competitive workforce needed in the new global economy, higher education must actively engage in partnerships with other educational sectors, employers, and workers. Examples of school to work and partnership initiatives are offered. (MSE)

The literature shows a strong connection between education standards and economic development, but the mechanisms are many and complex. Four human capital development approaches are available: redesigning and rebuilding the foundation (scrapping the back-to-basics approach); stressing applications skills required by high-performance organizations;…

Presents the thoughts and suggestions of four prominent private career school or college owners regarding how schools are restructuring their programs and services to meet the needs of an ever-changing workplace. (JOW)

Structured as schools-within-schools, California Partnership Academies are 3-year high school programs beginning in grade 10 and involving the business community. The academies feature courses focused on an occupational theme, coupled with rigorous academic instruction; block scheduling; a selection process identifying promising low-achievers; a…