Migrant streams Communities of refugees; e.g., Vietnamese, Indo-Chinese, DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DISADVANTAGED In further delineating who the disadvantaged are for purposes of serving these individuals under the Vocational Education Act of 1976, it is essential to keep the cause of the disadvantage distinct from its effect in an educational context. For instance, vocational education students failing to succeed in a vocational education program could trace their disadvantage to causes stemming from their living in a rurally isolated area, being on welfare, having a non-English language background, or dropping out of high school. They have difficulty understanding the English language, have few role models of adults who maintain stable employment, are poorly prepared academically, and are unfamiliar with the career options and training requirements which could be available to prepare themselves for gainful employment. The education institution may not be able to do anything about either the family circumstances or the previous history of these students. However, it can correct some of the deficiencies which these students present through the following activities: guidance and counseling, a vocational education program which meets their special learning needs, staff orientation, work-study, basic and remedial courses, and cooperation with social agencies. In working with the disadvantaged, the following demographic characteristics should be identified for each individual. This is important in evaluating the types of support services which should be made available to help each individual student. A. English as a Second Language: Students in this group come from home environments in which English is not the common language of communication, such as a) Spanish b) Native American c) Eskimo/Aleut d) French e) Pacific American f) Vietnamese & Indo-Chinese g) Other B. Racial/Ethnic Groups a) Black b) Native American c) Hispanic d) Pacific American e) Other C. Adults: Persons beyond the age of compulsory school attendance Functional Illiterate Persons who are unable to apply the basic communication, computational and problem-solving skills in meeting the requirements for adequate performance in matters pertaining to jobs. Unemployed/Underemployed The unemployed are those who are not working but are looking for a job. The underemployed are those who are not employed at their full potential. Offenders Persons who are incarcerated in, or on release status from, a correctional institution. D. Dropouts or School Leavers Actual Persons who have left school for any reason before graduating or completing a program of study and without transferring to another school. Potential Persons who may reasonably be expected to leave school for any reason before graduating or completing a program of study and without transferring to another school. E. Migrant and Seasonal Worker Family in Fishing or Agriculture Migratory agricultural workers or those in the fishing industry who have moved with their families from one school district to another during the past year to secure temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural related food-processing or fishing activities. F. Dependent, Neglected, and/or Delinquent Youth Dependent and Neglected Youth Dependent youth are those who have lost their homes through death or illness of parents or guardians. Neglected youth are those who are being abused by parent, guardian, or society in general as determined by the courts. Delinquent Youth Youth who are declared delinquent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction. G. Families With Income Below Poverty Level The income of family or persons is below the national poverty level and is inadequate for basic living needs: a) Receiving public assistance b) Unemployed parent or guardian, or the participants themselves c) Family income is at or below the national poverty level H. Geographic-Transportation-and Communication Isolated Persons who have severely restricted access to communication and transportation resources and/or who have cultural traditions against modern or innovative technology that inhibit personal and occupational mobility, e.g., Appalachia, Indian reservations. Rural Isolation Persons in sparsely settled areas inadequately served by highways or public transportation or communications, and with a tradition of self-reliance and subsistence existence, with little access to cultural opportunities. Urban Isolation Persons in heavily populated areas whose mobility is restricted by economic circumstance, social pressures or personal fears, and/or who are inadequately served by public transportation within their ability to pay. |