The Role of Vocational Education in Dropout Prevention.

Overview & Synopsis

The Governor's Council on Vocational Education prepared recommendations on vocational education's role in dropout prevention in Kentucky. Eight recommendations were developed as follows: (1) education decision-makers should take appropriate steps to revitalize and implement the concepts of a practical arts exploration program at the seventh- to ninth-grade level; (2) vocational education teachers and equipment should be involved in the teaching of keyboarding skills to seventh- to ninth-grade students as part of the universal use of computers; (3) vocational education should be made accessible to more students below the 11th grade; (4) active recruitment of youth who have been out of school for a minimum of 1 year should be instituted to enroll dropouts into vocational education programs that allow for slower paced, competency-based programs and lead to a regular high school diploma; (5) a curriculum committee should be established to develop strategies for a vocational high school diploma, explore and recommend ways to integrate successful vocational education practices into the general education curriculum, review and modify vocational education curricula so that high school basic skills credit may be given, and identify and remove unnecessary curriculum-imposed barriers to student opportunities for vocational education enrollment; (6) a joint venture to develop programs using vocational education methods for meeting special needs of children should be explored and rehabilitation provided; (7) additional vocational education counselors should be hired; and (8) the feasibility of a summer school program using vocational education facilities should be investigated. (CML)