Educational reform in the United States is perpetually evolving. Much of the recent reforms have concentrated on high-stakes testing and assessment, but a parallel effort has been emerging in the field of vocational and career education. Prompted partly by federal legislation--most recently by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act…

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe barriers to the implementation of competency-based vocational education (CBVE) in Florida's secondary schools and to recommend strategies/solutions to overcome these barriers. Implications for policy formation and for administrative action were to be drawn. This project used as its basis the…

The status of competence-based education (CBE) in Illinois secondary schools is examined in this article. The authors cite some strengths and weaknesses of those programs in existence. They surmise from their findings that CBE is not widely planned or implemented in Illinois secondary schools. (Editor/SJL)

A program evaluation assessed the implementation of the Alaska Department of Education's State Plan for Career Education, 1978-1983. Focus was on the degree to which the state plan objectives involving curriculum change, career counseling, special groups, business and industry, home and family, and inservice education were completed. Activities…

This study investigated factors related to the implementation of the New York State curriculum for English as a Second Language (ESL) in secondary schools. It was hypothesized that three variable sets would relate to the implementation of the curriculum: the nature of the assistance provided the teacher (principal's support and inservice…

A study to ascertain state progress in building school-to-work systems reviewed the state applications for school-to-work planning grants submitted in December 1993 and 1993 state reports on progress toward achieving the National Education Goals. State infrastructure to support and guide local programs included clear goals, public understanding…

A study examined existing perceptions of the effectiveness of vocational education in Michigan. Researchers sought the opinions of 1,879 educators (including teachers, administrators, counselors, admissions representatives, and public relations professionals) connected with vocational education; 1,099 nonvocational educators; 745 parents; 1,030…

The results of an exploratory study that investigated the range of programs available to limited English proficient (LEP) students in California secondary schools are addressed. The study consisted of several components: a telephone survey to 27 secondary schools that were demographically and regionally representative of California high schools…

A survey of 277 special education supervisors and administrators found compliance with an average of 9 of 14 transition policy areas of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, with the most compliance found in the paperwork aspects of transition practice. The best predictor of compliance was found to be hours of transition training. (CR)

A project was conducted to integrate and enhance the applied technology components of instruction provided to students in mathematics and science throughout Texas. During the project, sets of staff development activities on 9 topics were developed and made available to pilot program sites, 96 integrated interdisciplinary instructional activities…

A study surveyed county vocational directors in Florida to determine their equity concerns as well as their perceptions of the potential success of various program strategies. Results indicated that urban and rural districts had different equity concerns. Urban vocational directors perceived a greater degree of overall concern with all ten equity…

A study examined the impact of teaching handicapped students in regular vocational education classrooms on class interaction and instructional variables. During the study, researchers conducted individual interviews with 22 vocational education instructors from 11 randomly selected school districts throughout Texas and later conducted a total of…

This paper presents recommendations for the facilitation and acceptance of change to remove sex bias and discriminatory practices in vocational education. They are based on the review of theory and research relating to attitude and behavior change, information about various equity programs, and results from the statewide survey of vocational…

An analysis of the procedures states have adopted to distribute federal funds for vocational education under the 1976 Amendments to the Vocational Education Act shows that there is widespread confusion and variation among the states. While the Act specifies that a formula must be used for distribution of funds, the exact criteria for determining…

All of Washington's 22 tech prep consortium directors responded to a 1994 survey examining selected aspects of tech prep planning/implementation. Ten of Washington's 22 consortia reported having tech prep students (only 1 of 15 consortia in 1992-93), and secondary student enrollment in tech prep programs totaled 2,203 (170 in 1992-93). All 19…