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Transition From School to Work: S. 1361 Addresses Components of Comprehensive Strategy

T-HRD-93-31 Published: Sep 28, 1993. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 1993.
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Highlights

GAO discussed the status of state comprehensive school-to-work transition strategies. GAO noted that: (1) 4 states have legislation requiring officials to develop and implement comprehensive school-to-work transition strategies; (2) 9 other states are drafting legislation proposing such strategies; (3) the components of a comprehensive transition strategy include development of student academic and occupational competencies, career education and development, extensive links between school systems and employers, and meaningful work-place experiences; (4) states and school districts are in the first stage of implementation and are concentrating on reducing dropout rates and improving students' academic performance; (5) Florida is the only state with a comprehensive career education, guidance, and development program; (6) Oregon and Wisconsin have established joint state-business-labor bodies to coordinate and monitor school-to-work efforts; (7) although all districts have some work-place exposure programs, they generally target vocational students and those likely to drop out; (8) obstacles to transition initiatives include employer reluctance to hire youth, few business contacts, parental aversion to work-oriented programs, uncertain state funding, federal grant targeting provisions, poor regional economies, and lack of lessons-learned information; and (9) proposed legislation addresses all components of the comprehensive school-to-work strategy.

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Attrition ratesCareer planningstate relationsGrants to statesProposed legislationSchool-to-work transition programsSecondary school studentsState-administered programsVocational educationWork-study programs