Preparing for the workplace : charting a course for federal postsecondary training policy / Janet S. Hansen, editor ; Committee on Postsecondary Education and Training for the Workplace ; Commission on the Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Hansen, Janet S.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Postsecondary Education and Training for the Workplace.

National Research Council (U.S.). Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Career education--Government policy--United States.

Career education.

Postsecondary education--United States.

Postsecondary education.

Federal aid to higher education--United States.

Federal aid to higher education.

Labor supply--Effect of education on.

Labor supply.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (224 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1994.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Job training has taken a central place among strategies to boost U.S. competitiveness in the world and ensure a high standard of living. Decision making in this area has a major impact on American workers who do not earn 4-year college degrees--fully three-quarters of the workforce. This timely volume reviews the state of postsecondary training for work in the United States; it addresses controversies about federal job policies and programs and outlines a national approach to improved quality and accessibility in workplace preparation. The committee focuses on the various types of training individuals need during their working lives. Leading experts explore the uneven nature of postsecondary training in the United States and contrast our programs with more comprehensive systems found in other major industrial countries. The authors propose what the federal government can--and cannot--do in improving postsecondary training, exploring appropriate roles and responsibilites for federal, state, and private interests. The volume highlights opportunities for improvement in the development of skills standards, student financial aid, worker retraining, second-change education, and the provision of better information to program managers, public officials, and trainees. With a wealth of insightful commentary and examples, this readable volume will be valuable to federal and state policymakers, leaders in the field of training, educators, employers, labor unions, and interested individuals.

Contents:

PREPARING FOR THE WORKPLACE

Copyright

Contents

Preface

Executive Summary

FINDINGS

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Principles to Guide Federal Action

Fostering High-Quality Training

Improving Federal Programs

Encouraging Systemic Reform

1 Introduction

THE COMMITTEE'S CHARGE: POSTSECONDARY TRAINING

Who Gets Postsecondary Training?

Postsecondary Training for What Jobs?

Postsecondary Training and the Labor Market

Postsecondary Training and the American Economy

STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT

NOTES

2 Overview of Postsecondary Training Institutions and Programs

INSTITUTIONS OF POSTSECONDARY TRAINING

Community and Technical Colleges

Proprietary Vocational Schools

Area Vocational Schools and Adult Education Schools

Community-Based Organizations

Apprenticeship

Employer-Sponsored Training

Military Training

Summary

FEDERAL POSTSECONDARY TRAINING PROGRAMS

Student Financial Assistance

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990

Adult Education Programs

Vocational Rehabilitation

The Job Training Partnership Act

The Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program

Dislocated Worker Programs

3 Diagnosing the Health of Postsecondary Training

ACCESS AND INFORMATION

Access to Qualifying Training

Access to Skills Improvement Training

Access to Retraining

Access to Second-Chance Training

Information About Training Options

RESULTS

A Framework for Analysis: Value Added Versus Outcomes

The Evidence

Community Colleges and Proprietary Schools

Skills Improvement Training

Retraining

Second-Chance Training

INCENTIVES, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND QUALITY

CONNECTIONS WITH EMPLOYERS

OVERLAP, DUPLICATION, COORDINATION, AND ARTICULATION

SUMMARY

NOTES.

4 U.S. Training in International Perspective

CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYERS

Qualifying Training

Germany

Japan

Australia

Britain

NATIONAL STANDARDS AND SKILLS CERTIFICATION

PATHWAYS FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

CONCLUSION

5 The Federal Role in Postsecondary Training

SCOPE OF FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY

POINTS OF LEVERAGE

PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE FEDERAL ACTION

6 Fostering High-Quality Training

THE DEBATE OVER STANDARDS

Definitions

The Mix of Design and Outcome Standards

Identifying Appropriate Measures

Setting Design and Outcome Criteria

Creating an Institutional Structure

CONCLUSIONS

Skills Standards

Better Information Systems

Capacity Building

7 Improving Federal Programs

POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES

Vouchers

Contracts

Grants

Direct Provision

Tax Expenditures

CHOOSING AMONG POLICY INSTRUMENTS

QUALIFYING TRAINING

Student Financial Aid

Student Eligibility

Institutional Eligibility

Low-Return Programs

Work-Based Training and School-to-Work Transitions

SKILLS IMPROVEMENT TRAINING AND WORKER RETRAINING

SECOND-CHANCE TRAINING

8 Becoming an Agent of Change

FUNCTIONS CONTRIBUTING TO SYSTEM-BUILDING

Making Grants

Rationalizing Federal Requirements

Granting Waivers

Developing National Skills Standards

Supplying Research and Development

Reporting

MEANS OF BECOMING AN AGENT OF CHANGE

References

APPENDIX Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-193) and index.

Contains:

Federal postsecondary training policy.

ISBN:

9786610196067

9781280196065

1280196068

9780309585743

0309585740

9780585142340

0585142343

OCLC:

923261162