Secondary Vocational Education: Imperative for Excellence. Information Series No. 277

Since vocational education is part of the secondary educational system, a system that is presently under close scrutiny and looking for ways to improve, it is appropriate to determine what the federal role might be in helping to achieve excellence in secondary vocational education. Federal policy has helped to shape secondary vocational education since the first legislation in 1917, the Smith-Hughes Act, mandated programs for students not well-served by a college oriented academic program. Although this mission is still important to vocational education, more program areas are federally funded today with an increasing emphasis on services to special populations. To achieve excellence in vocational education, four policy alternatives are suggested: (1) productivity enhancement, (2) integration of vocational and academic programs, (3) allocation of funds to special needs populations, and (4) modification and continuation of the present pattern. The preferred alternative is to integrate vocational and academic programs. This policy option, addressing directly the imperative for excellence in secondary vocational education, provides career exploration and employability for all students, yet retains the opportunity for employment preparation during the later years of secondary education. (KC)