School-to-Work Transition

This fascinating comparative study presents the latest research into the value of qualifications for the attainment of first job, and in securing employment. A team of some of the world's leading scholars in the field examine the ways in which educational qualifications affect the occupational outcomes of men and women in thirteen countries. The book features chapters on each of these countries, together with a lead chapter which integrates them, and analyses them comparatively. The authors present a wealth of rich and detailed information on educational institutions in these various countries, as well as reports on rigorous statistical analyses of the associations between qualifications and occupations. The data reveals marked differences between countries in how education shapes occupational attainment, and indicates that these differences are related, in very systematic ways, to the institutional characteristics of school systems. The book offers a range of insightful policy-oriented observations, for example that vocational education is valuable in countries where training is occupationally specific, but is of little value where the curricula are general in content.

How will the experience of adolescence be affected by key societal phenomena--demographic trends, information technology, environmental degredation, and advances in medicine and genetics? This important volume identifies such ominous changes as unstable job markets and widening income gaps, while at the same time observing opportunities created by information technology and innovations in health service delivery. Knowledgeable projections are vital in shaping research agendas and for alerting educators, policy makers, and practitioners to new issues in adolescent development.

American education is undergoing rapid change. Concern over poor student performance, the ability and motivation of teachers, and the inefficiency of school bureaucracy have led to numerous recommendations for changing the structure of American education. These vary from small changes in the current structure to wholesale privatization of public schools. The contributions in this book discuss a wide range of proposals, including greater school choice, charter schools, promoting contact with the business community, public-private partnerships, and more. Several chapters assess the current research on choice and restructuring. Overall the consensus is that proposed reforms have a good chance of yielding significant benefits.

Adjusting to post-high school life can be especially difficult for individuals with disabilities who are expected to find & maintain employment, live on their own, & function successfully in their communities. This book argues that the area of special education-namely, pre-service & in-service teachers, counselors, & psychologists-can better prepare individuals with disabilities in making a successful transition from school to work & community living.