Career and technical education (CTE) is in danger of being eliminated without sweeping changes. A coordinated systemic approach can change what is taught, when, how, and where. The approach includes new curriculum frameworks, integration of academic and CTE, and a high school delivery system based on career academies. (JOW)

Career academies are specialized high schools that blend challenging academic courses with realistic work experiences. An academy's curriculum organizes academic instruction around an industry or occupational theme and enables students to complete college preparatory courses and acquire work-related knowledge and skill. (Author/JOW)

In Manatee County, Florida, not only did they build career tech programs into career academies, but they also developed an evaluation process to ensure these career academies were credible. A District Academic team created the "Documentation of Academy Assessment Criteria" with 12 core components and a rubric that helps evaluators…

School choice reforms have been proposed as ways to enhance efficiency, equity, and effectiveness in education. This study examines the consequences of participating in public high school choice in Chicago, a city with a wide variety of choice programs, including career academies, charter schools, magnet schools, and selective test-based college…

Describes the academy model--school within a school--adopted by Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore, Maryland, which is organized around a career theme and committed to closer teacher-student relationships. Includes a list of resources on academies. (JOW)

Review of previous predictions on entry level of school psychologists by three professional leaders (Jack I. Bardon, Douglas T. Brown, Irwin Hyman) reported at the 1978 National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Convention. In 1994, many predictions materialized including school psychologists having doctoral degrees, rare use of medical…

Explores the change in today's career technical schools resulting from the growing demand for a technologically savvy workforce. The article highlights community development of career academies. (GR)

By pairing up core-subject teachers with traditional vocational education instructors, a Michigan district tries to show that rigor can be built into vocational programs. One teacher own contracting business, and still makes cabinets and renovates houses in his spare time. The other teacher's passion is math and science. He is certified in both of…

This article describes the Soddy-Daisy High School in southeastern Tennessee. It used to be that vocational training and a focus on academic studies were considered completely different means of education. But in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, the two go hand in hand. Eric Thomas and his brother Mark, teach side by side in adjacent rooms, where computer…

This paper discusses the development, delivery, and evaluation of a successful graduate course in community development offered to students across Canada via the Internet. The review of literature points to common themes in distance education, community development and health promotion. The course, "Health Promotion: Community Development…

The example of a school-to-career program in Louisiana illustrates steps for achieving the sustainability of such initiatives: (1) develop high-quality programs keyed to national standards; (2) generate enthusiasm and consensus building; (3) garner business, education, and government support; (4) let intermediaries make the case; and (5) use media…

Career academies in Philadelphia have evolved over the past 30 years. A comprehensive review of their effectiveness found that students have better attendance and grades, higher self-esteem and satisfaction with school, and lower dropout rates. (JOW)

The Motivated Action towards Achievement and Transformation Academy is a California middle school's program intended to increase achievement of African-American males. Components include academic skills, counseling, cultural development, college and career exploration, parent education, and mentoring. The first cohort decreased referrals and…

Career academies now number more than 1,500 nationwide. The concept has roots in colonial times and in the German continuation model. High-risk academy students have lower dropout rates, are more engaged in the curriculum, and continue on to postsecondary education at a higher rate than their nonacademy peers. They also have improved job…

Argues for a richer, more varied English Instruction experience for "vocational track" students. Suggests several methods for creating a more powerful vocational/English curriculum. Concludes that it is not the place of any teacher or school to decide what kinds of literacy students will or will not need or want in their futures. (SG)