Ohio Panel Calls For Restructuring Of Vocational System
A citizen’s organization in Ohio, dedicated to studying school policies, has suggested that the state reevaluate its approach to vocational programs in order to prioritize academics and strengthen the connection between schools and employers. Ohio was the first state to require public high schools to offer vocational training, but according to a report from the Citizens’ Council for Ohio Schools, less than half of the students who completed these programs in 1982 actually found jobs in their trained field. The report also found that many students went on to pursue additional training in postsecondary programs. The study, titled “Student Outcomes of Vocational Education: A Cleveland-Area Study,” primarily focused on vocational education in five school districts near Cleveland. It is one of many recent efforts in Ohio to assess potential reforms in the vocational education system. The report questions the justification of tracking so many high-school students into vocational education when so few of them actually secure jobs related to their training. Ohio has one of the largest and most advanced vocational-education systems in the United States, with vocational programs enrolling around 41 percent of 11th and 12th graders in the state.
The council’s study specifically examined the job-market results for vocational students. Some key findings include: only 11.2 percent of the vocational class of 1982 in Ohio were unemployed in January 1983, compared to a 27.5 percent unemployment rate for 16-to-19-year-olds in the state. However, it should be noted that the overall youth unemployment rate includes dropouts as well. The report acknowledges that comparable data is not readily available to determine whether a vocational curriculum in high school gives students a better chance at finding a job after graduation, as compared to a general curriculum. In January 1983, less than a third of black students who completed vocational programs in 1982 were employed in their trained fields. Students who completed full-day vocational programs were more likely to find jobs in their fields of study compared to those who completed half-day programs. However, the full-day students also experienced higher overall unemployment rates and a greater percentage sought further training and education. Students from the Cleveland City Schools had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates in their areas of training compared to students from suburban programs. Furthermore, a higher percentage of city district graduates pursued additional training after high school. Surprisingly, despite similar program offerings and quality, the report found that Cleveland training programs were not as successful as suburban programs in terms of employment outcomes. In the 1981-82 school year, over half of the junior and senior students in Cleveland schools were enrolled in vocational programs, a significantly higher percentage than in suburban schools.
Based on these findings, the council recommended several significant changes in the focus of vocational education. Firstly, the Ohio Department of Education’s vocational division and the Cleveland City Schools should prioritize student job placements over recruitment for vocational programs. Additionally, the report suggests that the state department of education should revise its funding formulas to discourage full-day vocational programs and encourage the development of half-day programs that provide both academic and vocational courses, making students more employable in the present and future.
The concerns raised in the report are widespread and have implications for vocational education in Ohio as a whole.
Sustained Dedication
The proposals put forth by the state committee, coupled with the findings from 12 vocational education pilot projects sponsored by the state, are expected to establish stronger connections between vocational and academic paths. Additionally, it is anticipated that these efforts will increase vocational opportunities for individuals with disabilities, enhance proficiency, and prioritize industry’s current needs.
The Citizens’ Council, led by Carla Edlefson, based in Columbus, redirected its focus on the vocational education program two years ago due to the state’s longstanding and significant commitment to it. The recent report emerged from the council’s desire to evaluate how Cleveland’s desegregation order, which has been in effect for five years, impacted vocational programs in the area.
One particular concern for the council was equity and the quality of programs, as well as minority students’ access to high-quality vocational education. However, the council discovered limited evidence in Cleveland to suggest that black students were being directed towards vocational education or specific vocational programs.
According to Ms. Edlefson, “Equal access to programs was not the primary issue. The system has made substantial progress in that regard. In fact, black students are slightly less likely than white students to pursue vocational education. I do not mean to imply that all problems have been resolved. There are still programs that are identified by race and stereotyped by gender. However, we do not believe that this is the main issue.”
