ERIC Number: ED275833
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Jul-1
Pages: 52
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
High School Graduation Requirements and Enrollment Patterns in High School Vocational Education Programs in the United States. A Report.
Frantz, Nevin R., Jr.; And Others
In order to determine the changes in high school graduation requirements and their impact on vocational education programs, a longitudinal study was initiated to track high school and vocational education program enrollments in Virginia and the United States for five years beginning with the 1984-85 school year. A questionnaire was prepared and sent to directors of vocational education in all states and U.S. possessions, with a total of 53 responses received. The survey showed that 45 of the states and territories have increased or were in the process of increasing the requirements for high school graduation. Enrollments in high school increased in 11 states, decreased in 33 states, and were unchanged in 8 states or territories. In vocational education, 15 states and territories increased enrollments, 13 reported no change, and 22 states decreased enrollments. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with respondents from four states with decreased vocational enrollments but increased high school enrollments; three of the four felt that increased high school graduation requirements were the primary reason for the decrease in vocational enrollments. Telephone interviews with respondents from nine states with increased vocational enrollments despite high school enrollment declines indicated that the following conditions were major factors in the increases: (1) funding allocations based on student census; (2) relevant and marketable programs; (3) cooperative work experience programs; (4) adult enrollment in daytime programs; (5) variable time periods for vocational courses; and (6) increased emphasis on prevocational education programs before high school. The report recommends that vocational administrators be sensitive to enrollment declines and use strategies to enroll students in vocational education courses. Data is graphically displayed in 12 shaded maps. Appendixes include the survey instrument; a list of state directors of vocational education; a tabulation of high school graduation requirements by state since 1931; a table of 1984-85 enrollment patterns for grades 9-12; and a list of additional comments from state directors. (KC)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Virginia State Dept. of Education, Richmond.
Authoring Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg. Div. of Vocational-Technical Education.
Identifiers - Location: United States; Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A