Voc-Ed in the 21st Century
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Reg Weaver, President of the National Education Association (NEA) was recently featured in the Winter 2008 edition of the Illinois Association of Machinists Journal. As a middle school science teacher and a 30 year classroom veteran, Mr. Weaver has been an advocate for quality public education for his entire professional life. The following information is based on the article published.
According to Mr. Weaver, "Career and technical education can be a lifeline for young people who may not be college-bound and are seeking academic opportunities outside the sphere of college-prep courses. By arming them with skills they can actually use in the workplace, CTE programs help make learning meaningful and keep students engaged in high school."
The NEA presented a 12-point plan last year designed to decrease the dropout rate. Their plan calls for more emphasis on "vocational and technical training, coordinating and integrating those programs with traditional academic courses."
According to a University of Michigan study in this area, they found high-risk students are less likely to drop out in the 11th and 12th grades if they enroll in a career and technical program. This same study reported a quality CTE program can reduce a school's dropout rate by as much as six percent. The study further indicates CTE students are less likely than general-track students to fail a course or, to be absent from school.
KACC has experienced some of these benefits pointed out by Mr. Weaver and the University of Michigan study. According to Principal Hahs, KACC's attendance rate is well above average ranging in the 90-95 percentile month to month and we continue to have 96% of our students here this year.
