Compiled by
Office of Special Populations
Carolyn Maddy-Bernstein
Zipura Burac Matias
Esmeralda S. Cunanan
Becky Taylor Krall
Linda Iliff
University of Illinois
National Center for Research in Vocational Education
University of
California at Berkeley
2030 Addison Street, Suite 500
Berkeley, CA
94704-1058
Supported by
The Office of Vocational and Adult Education
U.S.
Department of Education
December, 1995
| PLEASE NOTE: This is an electronic version of a printed directory that was correct at the time of printing, but no effort has been made to keep all contact information up-to-date. For the most current information, visit the NCRVE Office of Student Services' website at http://ncrve-oss.ed.uiuc.edu/ |
FUNDING INFORMATION
| Project Title: | National Center for Research in Vocational Education |
|---|---|
| Grant Number: | V051A30003-95A/V051A30004-95A |
| Act under which Funds Administered: | Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act P.L. 98-524 |
| Source of Grant: | Office of Vocational and Adult Education U.S. Department of Education Washington, DC 20202 |
| Grantee: | The Regents of the University of California c/o National Center for Research in Vocational Education 2030 Addison Street, Suite 500 Berkeley, CA 94704 |
| Director: | David Stern |
| Percent of Total Grant Financed by Federal Money: | 100% |
| Dollar Amount of Federal Funds for Grant: | $6,000,000 |
| Disclaimer: | This publication was prepared pursuant to a grant with the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. Grantees undertaking such projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their judgement in professional and technical matters. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official U.S. Department of Education position or policy. |
| Discrimination: | Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states: "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Therefore, the National Center for Research in Vocational Education project, like every program or activity receiving financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education, must be operated in compliance with these laws. |
This guide is designed for those educators who are developing or implementing a school-to-work program, as well as those educators who are interested in background information about school-to-work. The resources, which contain the most current information consist of publications; newsletters and journals; educational information centers, agencies, and organizations. Sections relating to the requirements of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 include School-Based Learning Component, Work-Based Learning Component, and Connecting Activities Component. The General Information on School-to-Work section includes reports, papers, and other publications that describe the status of school-to-work programs in the United States, the nature of workforce and job training programs, and the analyses and explanations of the School-to-Work legislation and its impact on current educational reform. Additional sections on Transition Issues for Special Populations and Gender Equity Issues are included.
On May 4, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the School-to-Work Opportunities
Act of 1994 (PL 103-239). The School-to-Work Opportunities (STWO) Act is
designed to help states develop and implement a system that integrates
school-based and work-based learning and provides high school students with a
chance to complete a career major. Programs developed under the STWO Act must
provide all students with equal access to the full range of program
components and related activities such as recruitment, enrollment, and
placement activities. All students is defined as "both male and female
students from a broad range of backgrounds and circumstances, including
disadvantaged students, students with diverse racial, ethnic, or cultural
backgrounds, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, students with
disabilities, students with limited English proficiency, migrant children,
school dropouts, and academically talented students" (Section 4).
The STWO Act has three major components: (1) school-based learning, (2)
work-based learning, and (3) connecting activities. The school-based learning
component requires career awareness, exploration, and counseling beginning no
later than 7th grade, including options that may not be traditional for their
gender, race, or ethnicity. It requires a program of instruction and curriculum
that integrates academic and vocational learning, and incorporates instruction,
to the extent practicable, in all aspects of an industry. Another requirement
is regularly scheduled evaluations which must identify academic strengths and
weaknesses, academic progress, workplace knowledge, goals, and the need for
additional learning opportunities to master core academic and vocational
skills.
The work-based learning component requires work experience (paid or unpaid),
including such activities as job shadowing, school-sponsored enterprises, or
on-the-job training. It also includes a planned program of job training and
work experiences that are coordinated with learning in the school-based
learning component. Other requirements include workplace mentoring; instruction
in general workplace competencies, including instruction and activities related
to developing positive work attitudes; and instruction in all aspects of the
industry.
The connecting activities component includes (1) matching students with the
work-based learning opportunities of employers, providing a school site mentor,
and supplying technical assistance and services to employers in designing each
of the three components, as well as the training of teachers and mentors; and
(2) providing assistance in integrating school-based and work-based learning
components, as well as academic and occupational learning, and encouraging
participation of employers in local activities. Local partnerships are required
to link participants with community services that may be necessary to assure a
successful transition from school to work and to assist completers with job or
education placement. Programs are also directed to collect and analyze
information regarding post-program outcomes of participants. In order to
determine how well different populations are faring, the STWO Act requires that
this collection and analysis be on the basis of socioeconomic status, race,
gender, ethnicity, culture, and disability. Data collection and analysis should
also consider whether the participants are students with limited English
proficiency, students at risk of dropping out, students who are disadvantaged,
or students who are academically talented. Other local and state mandates
address the need to give students flexibility to develop new career goals, to
change career majors, and to transfer between education and training
programs.
Measurable outcomes in both academic and vocational learning are emphasized at
every level of planning. The school-based learning component must be designed
to meet the same academic standards set by the state for all students, to
prepare students for postsecondary education, and to award skills certificates.
The vocational content of programs must be broad, providing students with
strong experience in and understanding of all aspects of the industry students
are preparing to enter (including planning, management, finances, technical and
production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor and community
issues, health and safety issues, and environmental issues).
This guide contains the most current resources (1990-present) for those who are
developing or implementing a school-to-work program. The resources consist of
publications; newsletters and journals; and educational information centers,
agencies, and organizations. Sections relating to the requirements of
the STWO Act include School-Based Learning Component, Work-Based Learning
Component, and Connecting Activities Component. The General Information on
School-to-Work section includes reports, papers, and other publications that
describe the status of school-to-work programs in the United States, the nature
of workforce and job training programs, and analyses and explanations of the
School-to-Work legislation and its impact on current educational reform.
Because transition requirements for most students with disabilities are
somewhat different, we included an additional section on Transition Issues for
Special Populations. Likewise, we included a separate section on resources
dealing with gender equity issues. The final section includes a list of the
curriculum coordination centers funded by the U.S. Department of
Education.
This guide is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all available
resources. The resources included are the most current and are representative
of the field. Whenever possible, an annotation, the price, ordering
information, and address are provided for each entry. Resources should be
ordered directly from the publisher listed in each annotation. For further
information about any of the centers and organizations, contact the person or
office listed opposite each entry.