In North Dakota, a statewide assessment was made of compliance with Public Law 101-392 (the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act) through questionnaires completed by 171 secondary school administrators (representing 77 percent of the 211 secondary schools in North Dakota), in 1991. The assessment showed that secondary…

This document contains six studies that were commissioned for the National Assessment of Vocational Education. "Introduction" (Ann M. Milne) provides an overview of the reforms of the 1980s. "The Impact of Educational Reform on Vocational Education" (Marion Asche, Donald E. Elson, Ann Echols, Arthur Williams) examines primary…

During the 1993-94 program year, 75% of Arkansas' grade 7 through 12 students were enrolled in at least one vocational education (VE) course. Of those students, 52,847 were either academically disadvantaged, disabled, or limited English speaking. In addition, 15,940 and 8,008 students were enrolled in VE programs at Arkansas postsecondary…

Tech Prep programs have been designed and structured to forge strong and comprehensive links between secondary and postsecondary education institutions. Programs within these institutions lead to completion of an associate degree or two-year certificate, provide technical preparation in specified fields, build student competence, and lead to…

Tech prep is an educational initiative that promotes increased cooperation between local educational agencies and postsecondary institutions. Its intent is to improve the quality of instruction and employment potential of students, particularly those enrolled in general or vocational education. Tech prep's strength lies in the partnership…

Initiatives to improve vocational education--such as tech prep, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA), and Goals 2000: Educate America Act--are full of promise. Case studies prepared by the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America illustrate the potential of these initiatives. Massachusetts and Wisconsin are two recipients of federal STWOA…

This packet contains 11 2-page fact sheets on various facets of vocational, technical, and adult education. The fact sheets cover the following topics: (1) performance measures and standards--what the law says; (2) career academy programs; (3) integration of academic and vocational education; (4) tech prep education; (5) the Carl D. Perkins…

This document, the third of five volumes that comprise the final report of the National Assessment of Vocational Education focuses on program improvement. Chapter 1 describes the education reform movement and assesses its effects on vocational education. It discusses current reforms that states are undertaking to improve preparation of students…

During the 1993-94 program year, enrollment in secondary and postsecondary vocational education (VE) programs in Hawaii totaled 20,788 and 8,645, respectively. VE services were provided primarily through Hawaii's 39 public secondary schools, 7 public community colleges, and the University of Hawaii Community Colleges Employment Training Center. VE…

Federal and state policy makers face 11 issues in implementing the Carl Perkins Vocational Education Amendments of 1990. A preliminary issue is whether federal policy makers or the states should establish further definitions of and restrictions on what constitutes tech prep (articulated secondary-postsecondary technical preparation programs).…

This publication summarizes presentations and discussions from a conference that addressed specific issues in the National Assessment of Vocational Education and in the 1990 Perkins Act that mandated the assessment. Introductory materials include a summary of consensus issues from the conference (David Boesel), welcoming remarks (Bruno Manno), and…

This collection of 22 papers is organized by the five conference topics. "Part 1: Effects of the Perkins Act on Policy and Practice" contains five papers: "Federal Legislation as Rorschach Test: Methodological Issues in Assessing the Effects of the 1990 Perkins Act on States and Localities" (Grubb); "Effects of the 1990…

This document compiles representative resources to assist state and local administrators of vocational special needs programs, special needs educators, counselors, researchers, and policymakers in implementing and complying with the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990. Entries in the publications section are…

In accordance with a mandate included in the 1990 amendments to the Perkins Act, a national evaluation of Tech-Prep implementation was conducted. The evaluation had two main objectives: to determine how effectively Tech-Prep is being implemented and to identify useful implementation practices and challenges. Data were collected from the following…

During the 1993-94 program year, more than 1.2 million Californians were enrolled in vocational education (VE) at a secondary high school, adult education program, or regional occupational center. An additional 1.2 million Californians were enrolled in community college VE programs. VE services were provided to significant numbers of students with…