Baseline Data for Teacher Education. Final Report.

Overview & Synopsis

The major purposes of this study were to (1) develop baseline data relative to the supply of and demand for vocational and technical education personnel by program area, level, and area of the State; (2) identify the availability of inservice and preservice programs for vocational and technical education personnel, and (3) analyze any discrepancies which may exist between the need for and the availability of programs including any unwarranted duplication of training efforts. Data was collected (through surveys) from public secondary schools; district directors of vocational education; community colleges regarding personnel recruitment policy, hiring policy, sources of personnel; preservice and inservice teacher education programs; and the utilization of teacher education institutions. Results showed that with one important exception, supply and demand for vocational and technical education personnel in Florida are fairly well balanced, and that current productivity of teacher education institutions in Florida is not creating an oversupply of vocational and technical teachers. The health and public service program area proved to be the one serious exception to the general finding of equilibrium between supply and demand forces. The study also indicated that (a) inservice programs are not distributed in proportion to vocational teaching personnel, (b) most inservice activities are of a professional rather than technical nature, (c) most inservice activities were offered for more than one vocational program area, and (d) funding for inservice activities was not equally distributed throughout the State. Questionnaires used in the study are appended. (HD)