Data & Research EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS
National Assessment of Vocational Education

Welcome

Welcome to the home page for the National Assessment of Vocational Education (NAVE), a congressionally-mandated evaluation of the 1998 Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act and of the implementation and outcomes of vocational education in the United States. The goal of this web site is to provide you with easy access to major NAVE reports. Additional supplemental reports will be added in the future. Please check again on our progress.

NAVE Reports

National Assessment of Vocational Education: Final Report to Congress (2004) presents a synthesis of evidence on the implementation and outcomes of vocational education and of the 1998 Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act (Perkins III). It examines questions about the effectiveness of vocational education in improving student outcomes, the consequences of new funding and accountability provisions for programs and participants, the implementation and quality of vocational education, and the extent of its alignment with other reform efforts. The report also provides options for the future direction of vocational education legislation.

Report of the NAVE Independent Advisory Panel (2004) fulfills the NAVE Independent Advisory Panel's obligation under Perkins III to provide advice on conducting the NAVE and to submit to Congress and the Secretary of Education its independent analysis of NAVE findings and recommendations.

  • Full Report PDF [187K] | Word [69K]

National Assessment of Vocational Education: Interim Report to Congress (2002) focuses on describing patterns of vocational education participation at the secondary and postsecondary school levels. The extent and nature of involvement, how students combine vocational and academic course taking, and the characteristics and goals of those who participate - are all important factors in determining the importance of vocational education. This report is based on findings from analyses completed prior to November 2001.

  • Executive Summary PDF [13K] | Word [103K]
  • Full Report PDF [1M] | Word [582K]

Supplemental Reports

These reports are commissioned studies by independent researchers and evaluators. These studies examine different aspects of vocational education in the United States, such as vocational student outcomes, the implementation of vocational programs, and funding and accountability systems at the secondary and postsecondary levels. They serve as source materials for the National Assessment of Vocational Education: Final Report to Congress.

  • Efforts to Improve the Quality of Vocational Education in Secondary Schools: Impact of Federal and State Policies (2004) assesses the quality of vocational education in the United States. The report provides evidence on the extent to which practice is consistent with legislation and with other views of what constitutes “quality” practice in secondary vocational education. The report also provides evidence about how policies made at different levels of the education system enhance or impede the implementation of quality practice.

  • The Vocational Teacher Pipeline: How Academically Well-Prepared Is the Next Generation of Vocational Teachers? (2004) examines the academic skills and pedagogical knowledge of elementary, secondary, and secondary vocational teacher candidates to assess how well prepared they are to teach academic skills.

  • Efforts by Federal Agencies to Develop Occupational Curriculum for Entry-Level Workers (2004) reviews federal programs that support vocational curricula development for entry-level jobs that require a sub-baccalaureate education. The paper outlines the general content of the curricula, as well as challenges policymakers and practitioners may face in adopting and replicating available curricula.

  • Educational Outcomes of Occupational Postsecondary Students (2004) examines whether postsecondary occupational students, particularly at the sub-baccalaureate level, are more likely than other types of postsecondary students to achieve their educational goals. Analysis focuses on what proportion of occupational students who set out to earn a particular certificate or degree actually complete that credential. In addition, the report compares these findings with similar findings about postsecondary students enrolled in academic programs.

  • The Return to a Sub-Baccalaureate Education: The Effects of Schooling, Credentials, and Program of Study on Economic Outcomes (2004) estimates the economic returns to a sub-baccalaureate education. The analyses emphasize the effect of a student's program of study (occupational or academic), the amount of schooling accumulated with and without attaining a degree, and the type of credential earned. The report also examines the economic gains of occupational education for students who concentrated on vocational education in high school and for special subpopulations such as older students, racial-ethnic minorities, and academically or economically disadvantaged students.


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Last Modified: 06/10/2005