Rising remediation rates among college students are leading to increased time for completion of degree, additional costs for students and colleges, and financial aid being used on courses that do not count towards a degree. In response to these issues, in 2007 the state of Illinois passed the College and Career Readiness Act (CCR Act), Public Act…

Rising remediation rates among college students are leading to increased time for completion of degree, additional costs for students and colleges, and financial aid being used on courses that do not count towards a degree. In response to these issues, in 2007 the state of Illinois passed the College and Career Readiness Act, Public Act 095-0694,…

Drawing on previous chapters in the volume, this chapter identifies crosscutting themes and lessons for those engaged in the development and study of academic pathways. Particular attention is paid to the ways that pathways can increase opportunities for traditionally underserved students.

A study used concept mapping to identify, classify, and prioritize student outcomes for use in building a foundation for evaluating tech prep programs. The study involved 61 stakeholders from 3 stakeholder groups: 24 educators, 18 students, and 19 employers, who rated 98 student outcomes statements gleaned from educational literature on tech prep…

Tech prep has been considered "dead" by some commentators, but that assessment is usually made only in cases in which tech prep was merely a new label for an unchanged course or program. In many cases, tech prep has become more widely implemented and accepted as real changes have been made. Many of the concepts of tech prep will remain even if the…

Parnell's 1985 book, "The Neglected Majority," provided a conceptual framework for tech prep initiatives. By the late 1980s, 34 states had established tech prep programs patterned loosely after Parnell's 2+2 Tech Prep Associate Degree model. The federal government became a strong supporter of tech prep through the 1990 Perkins Vocational…

In 1990, the Illinois Council of Public Community College Presidents (ICPCCP) commissioned a survey to document the current capacity and future potential of the Illinois Community College System (ICCS) to provide technology transfer assistance to the commercial marketplace and the public sector. An extensive questionnaire was developed and mailed…

Discusses the history of the relationship between vocational education and community colleges and the current status of this relationship. (CH)

Since the passage of the Carl D. Perkins legislation in 1990 and the School to Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) in 1994, considerable funds and effort have been put into tech prep and school-to-work programs. To determine the extent to which these programs actually improve educational opportunities for students, case studies were undertaken of six…

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…

Many more of the nation's youths deserve the opportunity to make the transition from school to college, casting the net of postsecondary education more widely and equitably. The necessity of encouraging more youths to participate in rigorous academics so they are ready to make a smooth transition to college has been recognized for some time. In…

Examines the historical development and current status of federal support for vocational education at the postsecondary level. Considers the role federal laws have played in creating current postsecondary vocational education programs. Discusses the federal government's potential for supporting enhanced growth and quality. (Contains 39…

Argues that Grubb's vision of the new vocationalism seeks to reintegrate academic and vocational education at the expense of the latter. Suggests that a critique of academic education is needed in the debate. (SK)

Presents an overview of exemplary community college graduate leadership programs. Discusses general trends in graduate curriculum (e.g., cohort-based programs with course work in leadership development, organizational change, diversity, and institutional development) and outlines 10 graduate programs that offer a focus in community college…

Addresses the community college role in growing workforce, economic, and community needs. Provides definitions, principles, and models associated with new vocational education policies and programs in community colleges. (Contains 31 references.) (AUTH/NB)