Purposes and functions of regional research and development (R&D) services sponsored by the National Institute of Education (NIE) are described, based on a task force's assessment of R&D services provided by regional laboratories. The historical context of the following questions are addressed: whether the conduct of R&D constitutes a…

As most special educators endure the periodic legal changes in education and special education, related service providers face the same challenges. These challenges include Inclusion, IDEA 04 regulations, NCLB and curricular related services. This paper presents these challenges and discusses a variety of solutions providing the most appropriate…

In late 2003, the regional campus of the University of South Australia initiated a peer-mentoring program aimed at assisting the smooth transition of new students to university life. In particular, the Nursing and Rural Health unit envisaged a program that would be effective and rewarding for both student mentees and mentors. This paper presents…

This guide is intended for local- and state-level vocational education administrators, planners, and evaluators who are responsible for making program planning and evaluation findings and decisions geared toward increasing program relevance. The method differs from more traditional approaches in its heavy reliance upon the selection and…

This project was commissioned to investigate ways in which schools can include the cultural activities and symbols of young people--musical interests in particular--in the design and implementation of a music curriculum. The resulting report is divided into three sections. First is a literature review that focuses on the musical interests of youth…

This document contains teacher's materials for a five-unit secondary education vocational home economics course on families with special health needs. The units cover: (1) family health needs (including the impact of special needs on financial well-being, the impact on the psychological health of the family, and the relationship of society to…

This packet contains student materials and an instructor's guide for use in a series of workshops on the "GOALS Process" for persons in retail businesses. The materials provide a framework for individual or family use in self-assessment and a means of identifying business and family life goals, setting priorities, and developing management…

Articles in these two issues of the newsletter on teaching adult literacy in English as a Second Language (ESL) address the following topics: (1) the definition of literacy; (2) the development of learning skills in students parallel to the language skills learned; (3) multiple literacy in a Thai refugee camp; (4) confusion resulting from more…

The Productive American Project was initiated by the National Council for Occupational Education to explore human resource issues related to productivity and competitiveness, and the role of two-year colleges in human resource development. The results of this project are presented in two reports. The first monograph provides a discussion of…

A study was conducted to assess the potential use of available supply/demand data in planning for secondary vocational education programs in Tennessee. Literature was reviewed for ideas and an analysis was made of the data in the Tennessee Occupational Information System (TOIS). In addition, expert opinion was collected from a selected group of 12…

This report, the first in a series on student financial aid, develops a public policy justification for needs-tested higher educational subsidies targeted specifically to students, and offers evidence to support the argument that financial aid is a worthwhile use of public monies. Traditionally, public subsidies for students have been directed to…

Opinions of middle school students, called "transescents," were studied in an effort to provide feedback to adminstrators, parents, and teachers involved in program development in a school district with a K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade level configuration. Participants were 200 students from a school district in east central Michigan. A…

This skills inventory for health care occupations was developed by a technical committee in Montana to assist in the development of model curricula and to address state labor market needs. The committee included employers from hospitals and other health care providers, members of trade and professional associations, and educators. The validated…

The manual is a guide for management representatives engaged in collective bargaining in higher education. It focuses primarily on faculty bargaining, but also addresses the problems of non-faculty units. It is intended for administrators, including governing board members, faced with significant responsibility for bargaining but without prior…

A study was conducted in Illinois to determine how effectively the vocational education system was meeting its responsibilities to serve persons in economically depressed areas under the terms of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. State records showed that during fiscal year 1987, Illinois expended $982,956 of the $1,336,238…