MICHIGAN

State Director-Arnold Loomis

INTRODUCTION

In the 10-year period, 1962-72, total enrollment has grown from 145,986 to 342,985 which is an increase of 196,999 persons or 135 percent. The prior 10-year period, which predated the Vocational Education Act of 1963 and the 1968 amendments, showed a growth of only 28,607 persons or 25 percent. In other words, the last decade's growth was 13.5 percent per year contrasted with 2.5 percent per year in the previous decade.

Enrollments by fiscal years were as follows:

1963 1968 1972

1977 (projected) –

156, 314

283, 633

342, 985

475, 500 (These enrollments are from reimbursed programs. Information concerning nonreimbursed courses is not available.)

The integral relationship between occupational education and the total educational process is recognized in Michigan. Common goals of Michigan education have been identified to reach the goal of offering equal education so that people may achieve the maximum potential. The three primary objectives of vocational education in Michigan

are:

(1) To contribute to the total effort of the Michigan Department of Education to guarantee that every child, youth and adult obtains maximum career development skills within personal capabilities and interests of the individual;

(2) To guarantee that no student entering high school in the State of Michigan leaves without having the opportunity to gain entry-level salable skills regardless of his or her ultimate career objectives; and

(3) To provide programs of adult occupational education to all persons of the State who need or desire service.

Program emphasis has changed during the last decade through special provisions and sections of the Federal acts. As a result, vocational education in Michigan has expanded considerably to provide more opportunity for adults, disadvantaged and handicapped. The "Tentative Plan for the Development of Area Vocational Education Centers in Michigan," based upon 42 area studies made possible by Federal funds, provides a basis for initiating joint local planning efforts for improved communication and articulation of vocational-technical education programs. Currently, 22 area vocational education centers are in operation with a projected count of 77 within the next 5 years. This

(424)

excludes Detroit which is currently conducting an area vocational education study to assess needs for centers.

In addition, planning districts have been established throughout the State. These 49 planning areas provide the vehicle for local articulation of programs and facilitate dissemination of information.

Job training programs for youth and adults have grown significantly during the past decade with the exception of production agriculture which has declined. New programs of agriculturally related occupations have arisen during this time in three fields and enrollments show a steady increase. These include agricultural supplies and services, ornamental horticulture, and agricultural resources. New fields initiated in distributive education which are experiencing continued growth include floristry, hotel and lodging, industrial marketing, and recreation and tourism.

Health education programs have grown tenfold but we are still not meeting needs in this expanding employment demand area. Wage earning home economics programs, now identified which were previously treated incidentally, include care and guidance of children, clothing management, food management, home furnishing, and institu

tional and home management and supporting services. Collectively, these fields experienced a 3313 percent increase in enrollment from fiscal year 1971 to fiscal year 1972.

New programs in office education include accounting and computing, data processing, office management, communication occupations, and personnel training. Enrollment in accounting and computing occupational courses increased 12 percent in 1972 over 1971. Personnel training increased 34 percent during this same period.

Programs in the technical fields were almost nonexistent a decade ago. These fields, offered principally in community colleges, now enroll over 17,000 persons in greatly needed programs. These include aeronautical technology, architectural technology, chemical technology, electronics technology, air pollution technology, and water and waste water technology. Collectively the growth in enrollment averaged 23 percent from fiscal year 1971 to fiscal year 1972.

The total field of trades and industrial occupation enrollments grew 15 percent from 1971 and 1972. New programs include but are not limited to air-conditioning, appliance repair, electronics, maritime, cosmetology, plastics, refrigeration, small engines, and quantity food programs.

c. Postsecondary Courses

Michigan's 29 public community colleges and its 11 4-year colleges and universities constitute the primary postsecondary occupational education delivery system in Michigan. A breakdown of postsecondary enrollments in occupational preparation programs for 1963, 1968, 1972, and 1977 (projected) by institution type is presented in table 1.

TABLE 1.-ENROLLMENTS IN POSTSECONDARY OCCUPATIONAL PREPARATION PROGRAMS

In summary, enrollments in postsecondary occupational programs have increased by approximately 100 percent every 5 years, and all variables indicate that this growth pattern will continue through 1977.

d. Disadvantaged

Categorical aid for disadvantaged persons as provided for in Public Law 90-576 has had a most significant impact in vocational education. Persons are receiving training and entering the labor market who would not have received such training or jobs without such categorical aid.

Increasingly the program is gaining momentum. Michigan is now serving 10,944 persons in 97 school districts. An ever increasing number of school districts are seeking to initiate programs for such persons.

With passage of Public Law 90-576, moneys were set aside for funding of vocational programs for handicapped persons resulting in significant changes in vocational education in Michigan. Handicapped persons are being prepared for and entering the labor market who without such assistance would be unable to do so.

Programing for the handicapped is rapidly gaining momentum across the State. There are currently 3,225 persons being served in 75 different school districts. The number of school districts attempting to implement vocational programs for handicapped persons increases each year.

Community colleges and 4-year institutions provide adult collegiate preparatory occupational instruction to full- and part-time students (see part Č). Secondary school districts, community colleges and 4year institutions provide adults with noncollegiate occupational education. This type of education is designed to supplement the student's present job skills so that each may advance or stabilize job wise in the labor market. Related instruction for apprentices is considered as part of this type of education.

Persons in this category are either employed or unemployed. The figures in table 1 state the employed and unemployed in need of job training for the years 1963, 1968, 1972, and 1977 (projected) who are currently being served.

ABLE 1.-NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED WHO ARE EMPLOYED OR UNEMPLOYED IN NEED OF JOB TRAINING

Adults enrolled in noncollegiate programs are considered to be either in preparation for employment or are enrolled and supplementing their present job skills with new required skills so as to stabilize or advance themselves in the labor market.

The figures presented in table 2 state the number of students enrolled in these two types of programs.

TABLE 2.-NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED IN ADULT NONCOLLEGIATE OCCUPATIONAL PREPARATORY AND SUP

(i) Method used for distribution of part B funds:

Federal funds are allocated on a nonuniform basis according to the four categories of allocation formula factors specified in Public Law 90-576, Vocational Education Amendments of 1968. For the secondary and adult education levels, a 10-point scale is used covering 10 factors distributed across the four categories mandated. These are programed into a computer to provide a variable rate of reimbursement to local education agencies based upon relative need. For the postsecondary level, a 20-point list of factors will be used yet this year (1972–73) but a revised system is being considered for 1973-74. The two systems are excerpted from the 1972-73 State plan for vocational education to show the manner of considering the relative fiscal abilities and differences in costs among local agencies.

Criteria for Determining Relative Priority of Local Applications-Secondary

The funding formula outlined in this section applies to the reimbursement of regular instructional programs from Federal funds at the secondary level. All special projects under part B, including disadvantaged and handicapped, contracted instruction, guidance, counseling and placement projects, construction, and ancillary services may be approved on a project basis. Federal funds required to be allocated on a non-uniform basis will be distributed according to the following allocation formula factors:

3.26-1 Manpower Needs and Job Opportunities

(1) Unemployment Rate: The rate of unemployment identified by the Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC) or the substantial and persistent unemployment rate will be placed mid-point on a 10-point scale.

Each district will be located on the scale in accordance with the average unemployment rate for the year for the respective area as shown by the State MESC office.