New Directions for High-School Career and Technical Education in the United States

Abstract

New directions for high school career and technical education in the United States 21 Century are identified and briefly described. The work is based on a review and synthesis of contemporary creative thought, opinion, policyinfluencing documents, research, and reflective thinking from a plethora of stakeholder involved generally with high school education and more specifically with career and technical education. Four forces underpin reform of high school vocational education in the US: The new economy, public expectation for schools, new research on student learning and motivation, and high school reform. Six components are integral to reform: High school majors, contextual teaching and learning, work-based learning, authentic assessment, career academies, and tech prep.