Question:
A report recently issued by an independent agency gives the
Pennsylvania Department of Education a litany of suggestions on how to
bring career and technical education into the 21st century.
But if President Bush's education budget is passed as is, making all of
those recommended improvements may take longer than the state would
like due to the loss of $40 million in federal funds, according to
state education officials.
Jobs for the Future, an organization based in Boston, assessed the
state's career and technical education at the request of the state
Department of Education. According to the report, the state of career
and technical education in Pennsylvania is a mixed bag, said Marlene
Seltzter, president and CEO of Jobs for the Future.
"The highest performing schools and programs in Pennsylvania have much
they can be proud of," Seltzer said. "[But overall] much improvement is
needed if CTE is to play its rightful role as an important contributor
to the economic strength of the state and the economic advancement of
its residents."
Many of the report's suggestions would make schools like the Bucks
County Technical High School in Bristol Township the model for career
and technical education around the state.
Many of the recommendations call for a comprehensive model that would
integrate technical and academic subjects. Career and technical schools
would be held to the same academic performance standards as regular
schools, thus preparing students for both the workplace and the
collegiate classroom, the report says.
The report also calls for the encouragement of dual enrollment programs
that would allow students to earn college credits while attending high
school and for career and technical programs to be more closely aligned
with industry standards, eliminating all programs that don't comply.
To help make sure that their programs comply with industry standards,
the Bucks County Technical High School works with a Craft Advisory
Board.
The board, made up of professionals who work in the disciplines taught
at the tech school, meets with school officials and teachers each year
to make sure that what the school is teaching complies with industry
needs.
Answer:
A report recently issued by an independent agency gives the
Pennsylvania Department of Education a litany of suggestions on how to
bring career and technical education into the 21st century.
But if President Bush's education budget is passed as is, making all of
those recommended improvements may take longer than the state would
like due to the loss of $40 million in federal funds, according to
state education officials.
Jobs for the Future, an organization based in Boston, assessed the
state's career and technical education at the request of the state
Department of Education. According to the report, the state of career
and technical education in Pennsylvania is a mixed bag, said Marlene
Seltzter, president and CEO of Jobs for the Future.
"The highest performing schools and programs in Pennsylvania have much
they can be proud of," Seltzer said. "[But overall] much improvement is
needed if CTE is to play its rightful role as an important contributor
to the economic strength of the state and the economic advancement of
its residents."
Many of the report's suggestions would make schools like the Bucks
County Technical High School in Bristol Township the model for career
and technical education around the state.
Many of the recommendations call for a comprehensive model that would
integrate technical and academic subjects. Career and technical schools
would be held to the same academic performance standards as regular
schools, thus preparing students for both the workplace and the
collegiate classroom, the report says.
The report also calls for the encouragement of dual enrollment programs
that would allow students to earn college credits while attending high
school and for career and technical programs to be more closely aligned
with industry standards, eliminating all programs that don't comply.
To help make sure that their programs comply with industry standards,
the Bucks County Technical High School works with a Craft Advisory
Board.
The board, made up of professionals who work in the disciplines taught
at the tech school, meets with school officials and teachers each year
to make sure that what the school is teaching complies with industry
needs.
