To better meet the needs of a technologically changing workplace and large, diverse and mobile population, the West Virginia State Plan for the Administration of Vocational and Technical Education requires local education associations to utilize program advisory committees as a key source of input for program review and curriculum update.…

If the year 1999 was dominated by the intense efforts of the federal government to establish guidelines for compliance with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, the year 2000 was dominated by the field's efforts to implement plans to meet those guidelines. In addition to engaging in this time- and labor-intensive work, the field witnessed…

The new monograph series, IBE Collaborative Projects: Strengthening Capacities through Action, documents projects initiated and managed by local or national level institutions in diverse countries, which have been technically or academically assisted by UNESCO's International Bureau of Education (IBE). This first publication in the series…

Teacher quality is one of the most important predictors of a child's academic achievement, but schools in Indiana and across the nation are struggling to employ a full cadre of teachers who are qualified to instruct the subjects they are teaching. This policy brief explores the factors and circumstances behind the national struggle to meet the…

This report is an important Illinois Community College System accountability initiative aimed at strengthening college program offerings. Data were obtained from responses to a standardized survey. The information was provided by graduates of selected programs regarding the effectiveness of their college experience and documents program outcomes.…

The mission of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), as the state coordinating board for community colleges, is to administer the Public Community College Act in a manner that maximizes the ability of the community colleges to serve their communities, promotes cooperation within the system, and accommodates those State of Illinois…

The focus of the Western Australia correction system on more rehabilitation and the provision of skills is designed to assist offenders gain self-sufficiency. This report examines the study and work experiences of state prisoners before and during their incarceration and their expectations of post-release outcomes. It finds that differences in…

Chapter 7 of "The Economics of Gender in Mexico" discusses how Mexico's "ejido" system, a semicollective form of land tenure, has been undergoing a process of privatization in which parcels are being converted into privately held land. Simultaneously, small-scale producers have been hurt by the lifting of price and credit…

This congressional hearing consists of testimony on the nursing shortage facing the country. It examines the causes and impact of the nursing shortage that the nation faces and introduces innovative remedies currently being undertaken by educational institutions and the health care industry, and makes suggestions for further action. Testimony…

This paper is for policymakers, advocates, and analysts who understand that the issues surrounding the introduction of more market-based mechanisms into education are complex and who accept the view that evidence is useful in sorting out the issues. It uses the market framework of demand, supply, and market pricing to organize the extensive but…

The 2000-2003 goals and objectives of the Houston Community College System (HCCS) in Texas include the following: (1) focus on student learning in the classroom; (2) ensure student access and success through comprehensive student services; (3) develop and maintain outstanding educational programs; (4) ensure a quality learning experience; and (5)…

This is the report of the 2000 New Mexico Association of Community Colleges (NMACC) Strategic Planning Conference. Participants worked in small groups to identify the most probable and the most desirable world for the year 2000. Results for the most probable world include: (1) education would be available to many consumers, using many delivery…

This report examines the role of the state in ensuring access to advanced telecommunications technologies by all Minnesotans and explores viable policy alternatives. Recommendations fall into four categories: access, affordability and competition, training and skills, and local initiative. Concerning access, the goal is for all Minnesotans to have…

The Ontario Industrial Workers' research site offered a basic analysis of issues relevant to the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) research and the labor education community. Project goals revolved around the need to examine development and applications of a new PLAR instrument, the Skills and Knowledge Profile (SKP), which is…

This is a report on a business survey conducted by Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) (Oregon) to review the success and quality of the college's degree and certificate programs in business administration, computer application systems, and computer information systems. The community college surveyed 104 local businesses to verify the…