Key Concepts in Career Education: Legislative and Policy Issues.

Overview & Synopsis

The paper examines major sources of legislative authorization for career education and raises some policy issues arising from that legislation. Selected examples of career education legislation include: (1) Vocational Education Act of 1963 (Research and Training in Vocational Education, Exemplary Programs and Projects, Cooperative Vocational Education Programs); (2) Title X, Part B, Education Amendments of 1972; (3) Education Amendments of 1974; and (4) Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973. Policy issues relate to: (1) the Potential effect of career education concepts in a variety of legislative sources; (2) the effect of legislative fragmentation on Federal/State administrative effectiveness; (3) the desirability of a more specific legislative definition of career education; (4) how legislation can eliminate distinctions between vocational/academic education at the State/local level; (5) how legislation can incorporate components of career awareness, career orientation, job preparation, counseling, and job career awareness, career orientation, job preparation, guidance, counseling, and job placement; (6) how legislation can encourage better articulation among elementary/secondary/postsecondary career education; (7) effective implementation of career education. A summary of programs most heavily used in funding career education projects is appended. (EA)