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This project is designed to work with two groups of urban educators--(1) those
who have successfully accomplished transforming/reforming their comprehensive
secondary schools and (2) those in the early stages of reformation. In 1995,
we will conduct a multisite qualitative study of three urban
comprehensive high schools that have included vocational and technical
education in successful educational reform efforts. Schools selected
for the study will have student populations typical of inner cities. Case
study methodologies will be utilized to explain the development and
implementation of innovative and promising practices in the selected sites.
Each step of the proposed project will be guided by a steering committee of
urban practitioners in addition to researchers experienced in urban educational
environments and educational reform efforts.
The site case studies will explain the processes and procedures that urban
comprehensive high schools have used to implement educational reform efforts.
It will also describe the role of vocational education programs within
comprehensive high schools that result in positive outcomes attained by
students from diverse populations.
The NCRVE's Office of Student Services (OSS) will publish three Office of
Student Services BRIEFS summarizing (1) findings from the case studies, (2)
themes that emerged during the cross-site analysis, and (3) highlights from the
developmental handbook.
The staff of the project will submit proposals to one national conference
during Year 1 (e.g., AVA).
In addition to publishing the three NCRVE monographs described previously, it
is anticipated that project staff will submit articles describing project
results to appropriate journals such as Vocational Education Journal,
The Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education, Education
Evaluation and Policy Analysis, and Career Development for Exceptional
Individuals.
At least five dissemination approaches (subject to additional recommendations
from the steering committee) will be utilized to obtain a broad distribution of
findings and products associated with the proposed project. These approaches
are designed to reach both researchers and practitioners interested in
successful reform efforts at urban comprehensive high schools serving students
from diverse populations. Those five approaches include (1) the publication of
NCRVE monographs; (2) the publication of Office of Student Services
BRIEFS; (3) a collaboration with organizations with interests in urban
issues; (4) presentations at local, state, regional, and national conferences
and meetings; and (5) the publication of journal articles which will also be
annotated in the ERIC system. Each of the five dissemination approaches will
be detailed below.
The NCRVE monographs will be disseminated through the Center's Materials
Distribution Service.
The NCRVE's Office of Student Services (OSS) will publish and disseminate
three OSS Briefs. OSS Briefs are delivered to over 8,000
individuals on the OSS mailing list free of charge.
The project staff will work collaboratively with organizations interested in
promoting school reform in urban areas (e.g., The Council of the Great City
Schools, National Association of Vocational Education Special Needs Personnel).
As previously mentioned, project staff will submit proposals to speak at one
national conference during Year 1.
The fifth mode of dissemination will be through the submission of journal
articles describing project methodologies, results, and findings. Attempts
will be made to disseminate results through both refereed research-oriented and
practitioner-oriented journals and publications.
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