A National Policy on Career Education: The Eighth Report of the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The report delineates the distinctions between career education and vocational education and recommends changes in Federal policy to spur advances in making education more relevant to student needs. Reviewing the career education movement over the last three years, the paper discusses some of the problems encountered as educators try to meet the increased national demand for more opportunities in career and vocational education, especially at the secondary level and beyond. Increased costs are seen as the principal barrier against more rapid conversion of education to a career orientation, and it is hoped that Federal subsidies will fill this growing need. The Vocational Education Act of 1968, to be reconsidered by Congress in 1975, and the Education Amendments of 1974 would be steps in the right direction. Eight recommendations for developing a national policy on career education are presented by the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education. It is hoped that, if responded to, these recommendations dealing with funding policies and legislative needs will be the spur to action in making American education more responsive to human needs. (MW)