Reviews career opportunities for African Americans in growing fields. High-tech businesses offer many opportunities for entering workers who have prepared themselves through proper training. Taking advantage of educational opportunities can prepare African-American workers for other promising careers in health care and financial and business…

Annotated bibliography of 56 books, book chapters, journal articles, research reports, and government reports on education in Cuba, published 1971-97. Categories include general overviews; the 1960s; improvement policies and the 1970s; ongoing improvement, 1986-97; political economy issues; youth and socialization; power and people; and…

A School-to-Work conference showcased programs for American Indian students in grades K-16, out-of-school youth, parents, and communities, and partnerships that were developed with business and industry. Discusses culturally relevant curriculum, hands-on training, entrepreneurship as a viable career choice, partnerships with corporations,…

Describes four affordable programs in Maine's Technical College System that help bridge transition from school to work: (1) Maine Quality Centers, where workers are trained to meet specific needs of employers; (2) Maine Tech Prep, which fosters career and skills development for high school students; (3) articulation agreements that provide smooth…

Besides providing work experiences, employers can help educators improve student performance by influencing public-policy decisions and changing their own employment policies. Employers' reasons for participating in work-based-learning programs include philanthropic interest, particular labor needs, and desire to improve a community's labor…

Argues for the importance of systematically studying the effects of community colleges on students. Research findings are reported on the following effects: attaining a bachelor's degree, labor market returns, economic returns, and developmental impact. Concludes that community colleges may be fostering student talent with the same degree of…

Labor quality is a chief concern of both rural and urban manufacturing employers. New skills required by advanced technology explain part of the problem, but dissatisfaction with work attitude is common to high- and low-tech employers. Lack of a high school diploma is linked to problems with worker skills and attitude. Employers are increasing…

Describes school-reform efforts in Anderson Community Schools (Anderson, Indiana) that are partnering schools, parents, and the community so students have the education and training to perform jobs needed in the future. Discusses the need for change, collaboration, the use of technology, and new models for learning. (LRW)

Describes the policy context and current status of the State Systems Change Initiative on Transition for Youth with Disabilities. This federal initiative has helped states to improve school-to-work transition services under one-time five-year grants undertaken as cooperative efforts between state education and vocational rehabilitation (or other)…

Of three reinvention avenues (market forces, limited competition, and systemic change), the last offers most hope for public schoolchildren. The new economy's most precious resource is people, not technology. Like the Broad Foundation, schools should enlist talented people, redefine roles, build leadership capacity, provide incentives for results,…

Provides a brief overview of Japanese high school students in terms of 1995 post-school destinations and types of jobs obtained. Describes the school-based job referral process that systematically regulates job distribution for high school graduates, including high school-employer networks and guidance for students in employment-related…

Assessment of the impact of the Life Centered Career Education curriculum on 23 special education students in a small rural high school revealed that special education students increased their job skills to a level comparable to that attained by regular education students. However, special education students did not report fewer barriers to…

Studies how the local economic structure, as measured by local job opportunities, affects students' educational achievements, synthesizing studies from Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Appalachian Virginia. A model is proposed to explain how the value placed on education is affected by local opportunity. (SLD)

Society must reconceptualize the public school as any nonprofit entity willing to be accountable for educating our children. The new system should emphasize common standards and school choice. Charter experiments in Moses Lake, Washington; Milwaukee; and Harlem demonstrate the power of choice and transformational leadership. (Contains 11…

Interviews with three Native American telecommunications professionals explore careers in telecommunications for Native Americans. Included are discussions of the importance of telecommunications, courses and technical skills needed for various telecommunications careers, types of telecommunications degrees available, the importance of mentors and…