Risk assessment has become a dominant public policy tool for making choices, based on limited resources, to protect public health and the environment. It has been instrumental to the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as other federal agencies in evaluating public health concerns, informing regulatory and technological decisions, prioritizing research needs and funding, and in developing approaches for cost-benefit analysis. However, risk assessment is at a crossroads. Despite advances in the field, risk assessment faces a number of significant challenges including lengthy delays in making complex decisions; lack of data leading to significant uncertainty in risk assessments; and many chemicals in the marketplace that have not been evaluated and emerging agents requiring assessment. Science and Decisions makes practical scientific and technical recommendations to address these challenges. This book is a complement to the widely used 1983 National Academies book, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government (also known as the Red Book). The earlier book established a framework for the concepts and conduct of risk assessment that has been adopted by numerous expert committees, regulatory agencies, and public health institutions. The new book embeds these concepts within a broader framework for risk-based decision-making. Together, these are essential references for those working in the regulatory and public health fields.

This book provides the reader with an overview of the evolution of career and technical education in California over the 20th century and some insight as to its strengths and weaknesses as well as the challenges it faces in the new millennium. This book delves into why career and technical education/vocational education are so important and needed in California’s public schools. Among the things it looks at are “What is vocational education?” “What are the benefits of vocational education, and in particular, to the student?” and “Why does California need vocational education?” Section one of this book discusses the historical foundation of career and technical education in California starting from the beginning of 1900 to 2000. Section two contains research on the 21st century workforce and the community college’s CTE programs and role in the economy. This book provides a forum and voice for scholars in California. It allows us to learn and understand how career and technical education was viewed at the beginning of its foundation, its curriculum, and its impact on the California labor force today. It also looks at the labor market disadvantages we are facing due to lack of proper structures in the CTE programs across the State.