Key Issues in Vocational Education: Tip Sheet for Education Writers.

Overview & Synopsis

This tip sheet provides information on key educational reform issues and advises education writers on covering vocational education. Part one, Key Educational Reform Issues Areas, addresses three issues: integrating academic and vocational education, tech prep, and performance standards and measures. Eight integration models are described: incorporating more academic content; combining academic and vocational teachers; making academic courses more vocationally relevant; curricular "alignment"; requiring a senior project; initiating an academy model; developing occupational high schools and magnet schools; and focusing on occupational clusters, career paths, and occupational majors. Other policies for course approval, funding, and teacher training are outlined that could be used to support academic and vocational integration. Seven types of tech-prep programs are identified: traditional agreement, advanced placement, "two plus two", enhanced technical education, more information, nonduplication, and modified curriculum. Measures and standards are addressed in three broad categories: learning, labor market, and accessibility. Part Two, Covering Vocational Education, lists reading materials, suggests important issues and questions to ask, and presents information on NCRVE resources and ordering. (NLA)