Vocational Teachers' Attitudes toward, Knowledge of, and Use of National Skill Standards

Ohio vocational education teachers' awareness of, attitudes toward, and use of national skill standards were examined through a survey of a proportional (by vocational program area) stratified random sample of 346 of Ohio's 3,499 secondary vocational teachers. Of the teachers surveyed, 205 (59%) returned usable responses. The teachers were questioned about their gender, vocational teaching area, educational attainment, type of high school, and teaching certification, and they were asked to agree/disagree with 62 statements concerning national skill standards. Although 59% of respondents agreed that students who have met entry-level skill standards have smoother school-to-work transitions, only 39% believed that national skill standards enhance vocational education. Of the respondents, only 37% believed that national skill standards would improve their particular program, 55% stated that national skill standards should have a positive effect on work force productivity, 60% stated that national skill standards provide the basis for measuring individuals' ability, 32% were not at all familiar with the national skill standards for their vocational program, 69% use employability skills to assess students' abilities in the vocational area they teach, and 52% believed that national skill standards will lower employer recruiting costs. (Contains 22 references.) (MN)