A study examined eight local consortia identified as mature Tech Prep implementers. The four-year research used a mixed-method longitudinal design involving repeated field visits, short and long interviews of key stakeholders, classroom observations, and document review and analysis. About 4,700 Tech Prep and non-Tech Prep participants were…

Looks at fundamental tech prep concepts that must be reinforced to ensure progress: (1) it must be grounded in an integrated curriculum; (2) articulation is necessary; (3) school-to-work programs and tech prep must be linked; (4) it should be outcomes focused; (5) it should ensure access for all; and (6) collaborative implementation is the…

Tech prep offers students a well articulated, rigorous course of study from the last two years of high school through at least a two-year (2+2) college degree, directed toward learning for and about technologically focused careers. Tech prep provides opportunities for more students to make the transition from high school to college. (Contains 25…

Discusses a national study that compared tech prep with career and technical education. Looks at promising practices including formal articulation, career pathways, work-based learning, professional evaluation, curriculum integration, and evaluation. (JOW)

This proceedings contains five papers. "Learning in the Workplace: A Qualitative Study of Skill and Knowledge Acquisition in Youth Apprenticeship Programs" (Cheryl E. P. Evanciew) discusses research on youth apprenticeship programs as opportunities for contextual, meaningful, and relevant use of knowledge gained in school. "Effects…

This guide begins with background information useful to understanding Illinois' framework for implementation and evaluation of Programs of Study. It starts with a visual depiction of the relationships between activity at the federal, state and local levels that evolved to the creation of Illinois' Career Cluster Model. This Model, which is based…

This guide provides perspectives about Technical Preparation (tech prep) from personnel representing the 50 state agencies and many local consortia. The guide also explores an approach to implementing tech prep based on the concept of total quality management (TQM). Each chapter begins with an overview that provides background, a summary, and list…

A study examined tech prep (TP) implementation in the United States. Questionnaires were mailed to a geographically representative sample of 473 of the 855 local TP coordinators identified. Completed questionnaires were returned by 84% of the coordinators surveyed. The study established that as many as 50% of the nation's high schools are…

This document is designed to help local practitioners construct new tech prep systems that bridge the federal Tech Prep Education Act with the new School-to-Work Opportunities legislation. Section I provides a historical and philosophical foundation for new systems. It describes the movement's roots, legislation, and local, state, and federal…

A study examined the relative effectiveness of three alternative delivery systems for secondary vocational education--vocational high schools, comprehensive high schools, and area vocational centers. It also ascertained how well secondary vocational education is serving women, minority groups, handicapped individuals, economically disadvantaged…

A study examined the distribution, use, and effects of 30 research and development products to improve vocational education for handicapped learners. These research and development efforts were studied through a mail survey returned from 321 respondents, telephone interviews with 100 respondents, and case studies of seven sites where these…

The incidence of pregnancy among young teenagers has increased dramatically in the past several decades. Young single mothers are much more likely than others to leave school before graduation and to be unemployed and poor. This study was conducted to identify differences in completion, school attendance rates, and grades for secondary and adult…

Responses from 120 secondary and 28 postsecondary counselors in Illinois tech prep consortia indicated little participation in professional development activities such as curriculum planning, study groups, and action research. Discrepancies beteen participation and perceptions of preparedness for tech prep roles may be due to their omission from…

The transition from high school to college and work for tech prep participants was examined in a 4-year longitudinal study of local tech prep consortia in eight regions of the United States. The study methodology drew heavily on transcript analysis and two surveys with tech prep participants and nonparticipants. The tech prep participants and…