CEW Annual Reports:

1999-2000 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

• The Center completed its last year as an active partner with the University of California at Berkeley in the National Center for Research in Vocational Education. In 1999-00 the Center researchers continue to be actively involved in examining effective professional development strategies and programs. Advancing the quality of education-business-community collaborations (e.g., school-to-work programs) requires new ways of organizing and integrating in-service learning for teachers and other educators.
   
• The Center received confirmation of continuation funding for it's U.S. Department of Education contract to conduct an inservice professional development project called TeachNET. TeachNET is designed to enhance inservice professional development programs by: (a) providing teachers with opportunities to participate in workplace/community learning experiences, and (b) assisting them in applying what they learned to instructional practices that will improve student achievement. In the second phase of this three year study, eight schools have been added to the initial network of three professional development providers and ten secondary and post-secondary educational institutions.
   
• Center researchers have again taken an active role in evaluating the implementation and impact of the School to Work (STW) initiatives in Wisconsin. Researchers completed the last phase of a four year study of the implementation and future of STW at the local level, as well as the role of employers in the STW initiative. The Center issued two reports to the Department of Workforce Development on these studies. The Center is preparing to release two reports related to the Youth Apprenticeship program, the results of two surveys conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. These studies describe the benefits of workplace learning experiences and adult mentoring, while noting some of the challenges in implementing widely these relatively high cost programs.
   
• CEW was awarded a directed research project by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education & Rehabilitation Services. This project, The Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program: Conducting Action Research to Document and Disseminate Inclusion and Support Strategies, began in January, 1999. This three year project examines the quality of the learning experiences, accommodation and support strategies, and post-school outcomes of youth with disabilities who have completed the Youth Apprenticeship program in Wisconsin since 1994 using a case-study method.
   
• Continued funding was received from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to seek, screen, evaluate, and disseminate approaches used by two-year colleges to serve rehabilitation services clients with severe multiple functional limitation in highly effective ways. This grant was completed in August 2000.
   
• The Center was awarded a directed research project by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to improve services and results for children with disabilities in block vs. traditional schedules.
   
• The Center was awarded the third year funding for the evaluation of the Wisconsin Office of Justice program that measures outcomes for inmates in six Wisconsin jails. The program focus is on job maintenance, alcohol and drug abuse, criminal behaviors, and self integration of training and knowledge.
   
• With support from the Kaufmann Foundation, Center staff continued a 30-month evaluation study for a K-16 school-to-career business and school partnership (BE2:School-to-Career Partnership) that includes urban school sites from Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO. Representatives of major business and industry from the Kansas City Metropolitan Area serve on the organization's Board. In August, 2000 CSEW staff began reporting preliminary findings to partnership representatives. A final report will be considered by the Board during January 2001.
   
• Center faculty and staff published several chapters and articles in books and prominent research and practice journals including the Classroom Leadership, Techniques, and The Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education.
   
• One staff member is co-editor of the Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education, as well as editor of The Messenger, a Dane County newsletter.
   

• The Wisconsin Career Information System has changed their name to the Wisconsin Careers (WisCareers) effective July 1, 1999.
   
• The Center has begun to rethink its organizational structure in preparation for the retirement of its two associate directors over the next two years. As part of the reorganization the Center has established and filled the position of Business Development & Operations Manager.
   

• The Center has worked closely with the Department of Public Instruction, Governor's Work- Based Learning Board (formerly DWD), and the Technical College System in sharing research studies, conducting research and evaluations of various programs, and the development of and dissemination of equity resource materials.
   
• Several Center projects are designed to strengthen collaborations among and between state agencies, Wisconsin professional associations, and local schools and technical colleges. For example, over the past several years the Center has been a partner with the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) in a workplace partnership national conference.
   
• The Center prepared a perspective for the solicitation of a Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship through the Department of Educational Administration. This solicitation was a cooperative venture between the Wisconsin Technical College System, SoE, UW-Foundation, and the Center. A Distinguished Graduate Fellowship was obtained through the Morgridge Family Foundation.
   

• Numerous Center staff have been actively involved in providing targeted technical assistance to local schools, businesses, foundations, and 2-year colleges based on the research conducted at the Center over the past couple of years. Customized workshops and seminars have been designed and delivered on topics ranging from effective career development practices and technology based career information systems to techniques for evaluating employer participation in school to work programs. Workshops have been requested by a wide variety of organizations throughout the Midwest as well as nationally.
   
• The Center continues to be a certified 'technical assistance provider organization' by the National School to Work Office, which creates opportunities for the Center staff to work closely with organizations interested in adapting our ideas, products, and staff expertise to address needs within their schools and communities.
   
• In collaboration with the Department of Educational Administration, an associate director taught three courses for the department that reached out to the Technical College System's one year Deans Academy development program. A total of 30 students participated in the courses.
   
• The Wisconsin Careers (WisCareers), over the past 26 years, has developed and marketed labor market software and print materials to the majority of Wisconsin schools, technical colleges, UW campuses, One-stop centers, and other agencies (e.g., rehabilitation offices, libraries, social agencies). Over the past year an internet version of the Career Information System was developed and tested. This new system was deployed in the fall of 2000. The content and focus of WisCareers software and products is on Wisconsin careers, education and business. As an example, information on over 107,000 employers in the State is included in the software and the internet site. To develop this kind of information on Wisconsin Careers, information must be obtained directly from Wisconsin educational institutions, employers and the Department of Workforce Development.
   
• WisCareers outreach staff, during the 1999-00 school year, provided on-site training at approximately 219 sites to more than 7,500 counselors, teachers, and administrators.
   
• A total of over 100 titles in areas of career development resources were disseminated within Wisconsin which includes software, Internet resources, student materials, professional development materials, curriculum materials, and teaching activities.
   
• Conducted over 50 professional development workshops around the nation serving over 3,000 teachers, counselors, administrators, and others at all education levels.
   
• Wrote and produced 15 new or revised publications or products this year aimed at teachers and practitioners. More than 16,000 copies of publications, videos, and software products were sold nationally.
   
• The staff continues to be active in state and national organizations in serving on program evaluation and accreditation committees as they accredit programs and institutions.
   

• Participants in two major conferences, The Careers Conference and The Workplace Learning Conference, attracted attendees from Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Total attendance for these conferences reached 2,500 individuals.
   
• For the last five years the Center has coordinated a staff and leadership development international exchange program for the Wisconsin Technical College System and the Scotland Technical and Further Education Colleges. Administrators and staff from both systems are involved in studying various approaches to setting skill standards, using technology to deliver instruction, designing public and private partnerships, funding, and other topics of current interest.
   

• The WisCareers has developed a unique database approach which integrates over 8,000 unique Websites with WisCareers software. The database approach, combined with using the CEW network server, allowed WisCareers to maintain, update, and enhance these Websites throughout the year.
   
• Over the past year the WisCareer Career Information System Internet version was developed and tested. The system was deployed in the fall of 2000.