Labor force issues do not take place in a vacuum. Most individuals base labor force decisions on a multitude of cultural and social factors, such as the environment in which they were reared, family obligations and responsibilities, divorce or the death of a spouse, or because of governmental policies. Sections in this document on demographics,…

This implementation guide is intended to assist educators in planning, establishing, building, and managing a High School/High Tech project for high school students with disabilities. The program is designed to develop career opportunities, provide activities that will spark an interest in high technology fields, and encourage students to pursue…

Forty high school students from different areas in the western United States collaborated on a year-long project designed to prepare youth for successful school-to-life transitions. The predominant mechanisms of interaction were e-mail, synchronous chats, and shared threaded writing posted in a virtual space via the Internet. This paper presents…

This study investigated adult students who completed an instructional program that included training in employability and job readiness. It identified and analyzed program completers' perceptions of the instruction they received and the employability skill levels and benefits gained as a result of their program participation. Data were collected…

Real, quantifiable evidence shows that school-to-work (STW) programs yield two important benefits: positive academic results for students and positive business results for employers. Preliminary research indicates that workplace learning leads to higher academic achievement; reduced dropout rates; better attendance; better college preparation; and…

A study examined the impact of agricultural education and training on farm business practice and the influence of training on changes to farming practice in Australia. Data were from an additional set of questions on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 1993-94 Agricultural Financial Survey and an interview survey of 65 Tasmanian farmers. Findings…

This policy paper explains the educational rights available to certain students with disabilities and chronic conditions under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It describes the federal law and regulations, eligibility criteria, complaint procedures available to enforce the law, and ways that state Title V agencies can collaborate…

This paper proposes linkages between the first year and the senior year of college, looking at the results of a workplace readiness assessment. The study was based on the assumption that the campus environment does not prepare students to handle life beyond college. Students volunteers completed a lengthy paper survey prior to viewing a video…

This guide is designed to provide teachers in King County, Washington, with a single resource for much of the information needed to help students with disabilities transition from school to adult life and to make informed employment decisions. It begins by providing an overview of federal and state regulations that affect students with…

This interpretative case study examines how the faculty at Ohio Dominican College, a Baccalaureate II, coeducational college, perceives the college's academic and religious identities, and how these identities are expressed in the life of the campus. Additionally, on a more conceptual level, the study offers an opportunity to examine the emerging…

This guide, part of a series designed to provide practical resources on topics critical to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, focuses on infusing real-life topics into existing elementary and secondary curricula. Chapter 1, "Teaching Real-Life Content," discusses the basic concepts and rationale for teaching life…

Knowledge supply chains are market-driven, competency-based systems in which education and training are aligned to help employers, educators, workers, and students navigate more effectively in the global economy. Three key trends warrant attention in today's global economy: (1) knowledge and skill needs are escalating and changing rapidly; (2)…

To identify future Texas higher education issues, groups of educational, community, political, and business leaders assembled for Delphi group discussions to examine Texas higher education in 2010. The final round of discussion yielded 33 questions considered important by at least one member in each of two or more groups. Areas of consensus led to…

If the lives of adults with disabilities are any measure of the impact of decades of special education, there are serious problems that must addressed. The employment rate among adults with disabilities, for instance, remains low. If a group of students choose paid employment as a goal for adult life, would not those same students want their…

The youth studies conducted by the United States Office of Education uncovered numerous and varied efforts. Some of them are treated in other bulletins of this series. Those classified as vocational guidance are described in this bulletin. The specific aims of this bulletin are: (1) To set forth plans especially applicable to youth who are not…