A study examined two traditional, comprehensive high schools, both of which had been involved with the school restructuring efforts advocated by the Coalition of Essential Schools. Shortly after their commitment to essential school changes, the schools became involved in a series of vocational education reforms referred to as Tech Prep. Case…

The new visions for the American high school have profound implications for vocational education research. Almost all basic premises underlying what high school vocational education should be and do are in question. The new criteria for the American high school make clear that vocational programs focused on broad career preparation are essential…

This study looks at all students who participated in a Tech Prep program at Sinclair Community College, Ohio, and who first enrolled in the program between fall 1997 and spring 2001. The comparison group consisted of all non-Tech Prep students who started at Sinclair between fall 1997 and fall 2000, and who had not transferred credits from any…

This document contains a brief report and project materials from the Tech Prep Initiative, which forged a partnership of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and the University of Wisconsin System to provide an articulated avenue of study that moves a student through high school and into a…

A study used concept mapping to identify, classify, and prioritize student outcomes for use in building a foundation for evaluating tech prep programs. The study involved 61 stakeholders from 3 stakeholder groups: 24 educators, 18 students, and 19 employers, who rated 98 student outcomes statements gleaned from educational literature on tech prep…

Describes a study examining the impact of the Tech Prep Education Act on the initial implementation of federally supported Tech Prep Initiatives. Based on telephone survey responses from all 50 state Tech Prep leaders, reviews findings concerning the funding of Tech Prep consortia, state and local administrative structures, policies and goals, and…

The 10 chapters in this book provide an overview of 5 years of work by member schools and colleges in the Urban Schools Network, which provides technical assistance to schools in 31 urban areas. "Overview of the Urban Schools Network" (Lola Jackson) is a history, defining purposes, participants, and priorities. "Integrating Academic…

A study examined eight local consortia identified as mature Tech Prep implementers. The four-year research used a mixed-method longitudinal design involving repeated field visits, short and long interviews of key stakeholders, classroom observations, and document review and analysis. About 4,700 Tech Prep and non-Tech Prep participants were…

This document profiles the diverse approaches to tech-prep taken by 10 local districts across the United States. The tech-prep programs in the following cities are profiled: Dayton, Ohio; Dothan, Alabama; East Peoria, Illinois; Fresno, California; Gainesville, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Logan, West Virginia; Salem, Oregon; Springdale,…

This document contains six studies that were commissioned for the National Assessment of Vocational Education. "Introduction" (Ann M. Milne) provides an overview of the reforms of the 1980s. "The Impact of Educational Reform on Vocational Education" (Marion Asche, Donald E. Elson, Ann Echols, Arthur Williams) examines primary…

In 1997, 78,644 Alaskans participated in vocational education (VE) in a public secondary school or university. Enrollments in secondary- and postsecondary-level VE were approximately equal. At the secondary level, 57% of vocational students were male. Alaskan natives accounted for only 15% of the total vocational enrollment at the postsecondary…

In the late 1980s, in response to a number of problems including consistently low academic performance by students and graduates lacking the skills needed by employers, Swansea High School in Swansea, South Carolina, launched a major reform effort designed to transform Swansea into a high-performance high school. During the multi-year reform…

This proceedings includes the following papers and carousel presentations: "Information Technology Related Career Development Needs of Secondary Vocational Teachers" (Joe W. Kotrlik, Betty C. Harrison, Donna H. Redmann, Cindy S. Handley); "Do Gender and Academic Risk Matter? Influences on Career Decision Making and Occupational…