Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the attitudes and perceptions of community college leadership, union officials and high school school-to-career counselors regarding high school vocational education in the California's Central San Joaquin Valley, and to identify characteristics deemed most necessary in the design of a high school vocational education program. This researcher investigated this problem using the following questions as guides: 1. What are the attitudes/perceptions of community college leaders, union officials and high school school-to-career counselors, regarding high school vocational education in California's Central San Joaquin Valley? 2. How do the attitudes/perceptions of community college leaders, union officials and high school school-to-career counselors, with and without prior work related experience, compare regarding high school vocational education in California's Central San Joaquin Valley? 3. What characteristics do community college leaders, union officials and high school school-to-career counselors deem most important in the design of a high school vocational education program in California's Central San Joaquin Valley? The design of this study was descriptive in nature and survey in methodology. Specifically, this study utilized 2 written questionairres with rating scales. One questionnaire evaluates attitudes/perceptions regarding vocational education in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. The other questionnaire evaluates the importance of vocational education program design characteristics. The first survey, the IVE, contained 28 questions. The second survey contained 21 close-ended statements. Both surveys were rated on a 5 point Likert scale. Study findings suggest that community college leaders, union officials and high school counselors collectively view vocational education in California's Central San Joaquin Valley in a positive light. Respondents in all 3 subgroups identified access to further education and training, employer involvement and curriculum alignment with local labor market to be the characteristics most needed in the design of a program to serve students of California's Central San Joaquin Valley.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Vocational education -- California; Education, Secondary -- California; Dissertations (EdD) -- Leadership, administration, and policy

Date of Award

2008

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Education

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Purrington, Linda

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