MINNESOTA Chairman-Burleigh E. Saunders SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Minnesota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education acknowledges, in submitting this Evaluation Report-1970, it represents the opinion of this Council supported by observations, but unsubstantiated by the benefit of post-audit statistics on attendance or expenditures. This is made necessary by the deadlines suggested by the United States Commissioner of Education-October 1, 1970. The first full year of operation under the 1968 Vocational Education Amendments-Public Law 90-576-was the 1969-70 school year; statistical reports of the affect and effect of programs are not yet available. Further, this Council recognizes implementation of Public Law 90-576 represents a major broadening of the activities and responsibilities of vocational education administrators, a fact suggesting an obvious need for more time before evaluation than has elapsed since the signing into law of the measure by the President of the United States. Contributing to this has been the lag between Congressional action establishing Federal funding for Fiscal Year 1970, which was delayed until April-the tenth month of the fiscal and eighth month of the scholastic year to be evaluated. Despite thse facts, this Council concludes and reports: (1) That the vocational education in Minnesota is aggressively working to implement the intent as well as the fact of Public Law 90-576. This is evidenced in many ways, not the least of which was the commitment of state funds-in anticipation of, but with no assurances of getting federal dollars-to effect broadened programs during the entire school year. (2) That the suggested intent of providing planning to identify more specifically "people needs" is being carried out with resulting objective of estabilshing programs responsive to the basic charge of the law to serve individual "needs, interests and abilities. . . . in light of actual or anticipated opportunities for gainful employment." (3) That the vocational education system and programs in Minnesota serve well those individuals enrolled in programs-but that there is a need to further extend programs to serve more, if not all, people desiring from education the basic skills to provide, maintain and improve occupational competencies. In short, therefore, it is the view and report of this Council that Public Law 90-576 is affecting and effecting for the better programs for vocational education in Minnesota. A more critical evaluation must await 1971 when a accurate charting of performance, measured statistically by service to "people needs," is possible. The Minnesota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education affirms the belief that the U.S. Office of Education is the appropriate agency to administer federal education programs and funding. However, this Council wishes to observe that efficient implementation of PL 90-576 in Minnesota is being handicapped by some administrative practices of the U.S. Office of Education. These include Demands for voluminous planning documents; Unrealistice requests for innovative programs, each of which must serve the entire spectrum of elementary, secondary and postsecondary education; Unrealistic calendar timetables for evaluation. These would seem to go beyond the intent of the Congress. Based on the above, there are no specific recommendations at this time. MISSISSIPPI Chairman-Robert D. Morrow, Sr. Ex. Secretary-James L. Easom, Sr. SUMMARY STATEMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS This evaluation has attempted to appraise in part the vocational education program FY70. There has been no attempt to present all statistical data available, but an analysis and interpretation of such data was made to determine in what direction programs are moving. It was clearly demonstrated in this evaluation that progress has been made in this State to reach the objectives of vocational education; however, there were some weaknesses identified. It was noted that vocational education placed special emphasis on training the disadvantaged, handicapped, unemployed, and underemployed in the State as well as regular students. There was also special emphasis placed on reaching the dropouts who had left school and providing a program to prevent students from becoming dropouts. There was a strong move to provide vocational education in area vocational schools to students in all parts of the State, particularly in depressed counties, on both the secondary and post secondary levels. Even though the above trends present a bright future for vocational education in the State some weaknesses exist which must be removed. One weakness of prime concern was the lack of sufficient funds to provide adequate facilities, equipment, and instructional personnel to most effectively operate the vocational education programs. There was also a need for more valid and reliable data concerning vocational education and manpower needs to better facilitate the planning and implementation of new programs. There was a definite need for continued emphasis to be placed on research in vocational education to provide new concepts and to evaluate the efficiency of those presently in operation. This evaluation has served a useful purpose and it was felt that a continuous systematic evaluation should be conducted to insure the most effective programs possible. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on a careful review and analysis of the data on vocational education certain major recommendations were made. It was recommended that: 1. The date for submission of the annual evaluation report to the U.S. Office of Education be changed to allow sufficient time for compiling and analyzing output data on vocational education programs in the State. 2. Federal appropriations for vocational education be made in sufficient time so that allocation of those funds to the States will be available for use at the beginning of the fiscal year. 3. Continued emphasis should be placed on providing programs to train disadvantaged and handicapped persons in the depressed areas and areas of persistent high unemployment to meet employment demands in all critical areas, and on providing a systematic evaluation and continued improvement of such programs. 4. Continued and stronger emphasis be placed on program planning and curricula development, in terms of higher standards and expected quality of output, by both State vocational-technical and local educational authorities for all levels of training. 5. That continued effort be made in the administration of the vocational education program to plan comprehensive programs beginning with: (1) occupational orientation to be completed just prior to the time that students enter an occupational training program; (2) a comprehensive high school vocational education program; and (3) a comprehensive post secondary vocational and technical program, in order that the total needs of vocational education may be met. 6. That emphasis be placed on training and recruitment of qualified guidance counselors to more effectively operate the occupational orientation program and reduce the guidance counselor-student ratio to one to 250. 7. Continued emphasis be placed on maintaining a close working relationship between State Department personnel who are concerned with the disadvantaged groups in developing effective teacher training programs (both pre-service and in-service) to better serve these groups. 8. The ancillary agencies and organizations and vocational education continue their cooperative relationship; and that efforts be made to expand and improve the services provided to the mutual advantage of all parties. 9. Efforts be continued to improve the image of vocational education by the State Board and its staff, State Advisory Council and its staff, and school administrators. 10. If funds become available under Part C of the Amendments. that emphasis be placed on conducting research on problems in vocational education through experimental and pilot projects. 11. Because of increased cost of providing quality education, State funds be used to supplement any school system that would lose Federal funds due to the new allocation formula. MISSOURI Chairman-William E. Clark RECOMMENDATIONS The recommendations formulated herein are based upon a review of the findings and conclusions presented to the Council by the Center for Educational Improvement as well as the observations of Council members resulting from visitation as well as review of program data and conferences with personnel of the Vocational Division, Missouri State Department of Education. The recommendations cited here encompass, and in some instances summarize, those recommendations which are reported under each of the Evaluation Goals within the body of the report. GOAL I State program planners must take the leadership in identifying the data that are required for the efficient management of the state program and motivating the appropriate agency to collect the data. Program plans should be formulated according to geographical regions or areas such as the six major labor market areas of the state. State program planners should analyze the labor market data and the needs of the youth and adults of the state for vocational education, and by relating these two factors to the current state and area programs, identify priorities and objectives for program development. These objectives should be precise and measurable and developed on both an annual and long-range basis. Program emphasis stated in the State Plan should be identified. with more precision and specificity in order to provide additional direction and guidance to program planners as well as to permit assessment. Increased attention should be given to specific programs and services for the disadvantaged and handicapped in order that the intent of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 is met. In order to facilitate and improve program planning, evaluation, and especially management of the statewide Vocational Education program, all professional staff members of the various divisions, especially the Directors, should continue to be involved in program planning and management on a comprehensive statewide basis. In order to accomplish this goal, the positions of Director and Supervisor of Vocational Program Planning and Evaluation should be filled. GOAL II The State Department of Education should continue to cooperate and when possible provide leadership to the development of the CAMPS organization at the state level. Cooperation with the Division of Employment Security should be continued and expanded. Cooper |