A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 407

Vocational Education National Program--Research

(CFDA No. 84.051)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Tecnology Education Act Amendents of 1990 (P.L. 101-392), Title IV, Part A, Sections 401, 402, 404) ( expires September 30, 1995).

Purposes: (1) To conduct and disseminate research that would improve the quality and access of vocational education for all students, including members of special populations, and will assist in the preparation of individuals for employment in a dynamic economy; (2) to provide an information-sharing network for the identification, location, adaption, dissemination and use of curriculum and instructional materials.

Funding History

Fiscal Year	Appropriation
1984	$ 5,935,000
1985	6,535,000
1986	7,369,000
1987	7,050,000
1988	7,276,000
1989	6,965,000
1990	6,986,000
1991	6,831,000
1992	12,000,000
1993	9,661,615
1994	9,661,615

II. Program Information and Analysis

Performance Indicators

The National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE) distributed over 40,000 products nationwide and produced four national satellite teleconferences that were broadcast live to over 1200 downlinks sites throughout the United States, Bermuda, Canada, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan. The National Center provided technical assistance to the 50 contiguous States in developing their performance measures and standards as mandated by the Perkins legislation, and over 30 large urban school districts were given technical assisance in developing and implementing Tech Prep and integration programs.

The National Network for Curriculum Coordination in Vocational and Technical Education (NNCCVTE) disseminated over 65,000 documents, provided over 10,000 searches to locate curriculum materials, and responded to over 13,000 requests for inservice and technical assistance workshops.

Services

The National Center for Research in Vocational Education is a competitively awarded, nonprofit, university-affiliated entity designated by the Secretary of Education for a five-year period on the advice of a panel of nationally recognized experts in vocational education. NCRVE is charged with conducting applied research and development to improve vocational education. Activities include conducting projects that improve the quality of vocational education by integrating academic and vocational education skills and by developing methodologies for emerging technologies; providing training for vocational education leaders; conducting policy-oriented studies to facilitate national planning; providing technical assistance to help States evaluate and plan their programs; managing a dissemination program; and making an annual report on education to work transition.

Six regional Curriculum Coordination Centers (CCCs) are competitively awarded on a rotational basis wherein two new centers are awarded each year. The contracts are for three years. The centers are charged with providing curriculum-related services to vocational education personnel nationwide. These services included technical assistance, inservice training, curriculum searching, cirriculum adaptions, workshop planning, professional development, curriculum information sharing and dissemination.

Discretionary Research Activities

Under special authorization from the Perkins legislation, the National Center for Research in Vocational Education was awarded a grant (1) to provide technical assistance to the States in developing their performance measures and standards; (2) to provide technical assistance to large inner city schools for academic and vocational integration and tech prep programs; (3) to produce four professional development satellite teleconferences; and (4) to assist in the implementation of Perkins II through benchmarking best-in-practices and processes with respect to measures and standards, integrated instruction, and tech prep.

Outcomes

The National Center for Research in Vocational Education has completed research studies addressing the following:

Students in vocational education, including special populations, that include characteristics and enrollment patterns, trends in the student composition of different vocational institutions, and the effectiveness of programs for students;
The economic context of vocational education including skill trends in the economy, the nature of sub-baccalaureate labor markets, and skills and skill levels required in the workplace;
Curriculum and pedagogy including the integration of academic and vocational education, tech prep programs, school-to-work transition programs, workplace literacy, and guidance and counseling to help students develop their occupation identities and understand the relationship between school and work;
Accountability and assessment including evaluation, performance measures and standards, and new forms of assessment in order to determine whether the system of vocational education has been responsive to the changing conditions of work;
The Curriculum Coordination Centers facilitated the dissemination and effective use of curriculum and instructional materials through the following activities;
Networking that helped States avoid unwarranted duplication of curriculum materials and helped them identify and obtain relevant curriculum materials;
Conducting curriculum searches to locate relavant curriculum materials for vocational, technical, and adult education clients;
Conducting or facilitating inservice and technical assistance workshops to clients throughout the nation; and
Developing linkages with vocational education personnel, professional organizations and others to enhance the effectiveness of vocational education services nationwide.

III. Sources of Information

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: The Role of Vocational Education in Economic Development
The Cunning Hand, The Cultured Mind: Models for Integrating Vocational and Academic Vocational and Academic Education
Performance Measures and Standards for Vocational Education: 50-State Results
Implementing Tech Prep: A Guide to Planning a Quality Initiative
Curriculum Coordination Centerfs Impact Report for 1992
Program files.

IV. Planned Studies

None.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:

National Center for Research in Vocational Education:
Jackie Friederich, (202) 205-9071

Curriculum Coordination Centers:
Bernice Anderson, (202) 205-9972

Program Studies:

Audrey Pendleton, (202) 401-3630

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[Vocational Education National Programs-Demonstrations]