Page images
PDF
EPUB

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Director-Paul E. Cawein

INTRODUCTION

Because of the rather unique governmental structure within the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Board of Education performs the combined functons of a State and a local unit. Therefore, for the purposes of this report, the terms "State" and "local" are considered to be synonymous.

The Board of Education has approved and is proceeding with the implementation of comprehensive restructuring of the educational program, K through 12, which envisions a sequential career development program that is designed to prepare all public school students for making wise career decisions and will provide the full range of educational programs and guidance and counseling services necessary to facilitate their successful entry into the world of work, either directly from high school or following continued education.

Vocational education programs will be an integral and essential component of the career development program. The broadened scope and direction provided by the Vocational Education Acts of 1963 and the Vocational Amendments of 1968 are in general harmony with the rationale underlying the objectives of the comprehensive program. Its success will be largely dependent upon the continuation, and indeed increase, of Federal funding in support of vocational education.

This report, in effect, describes the progress made toward the phasing of the traditional programs of specialized vocational education into the broadened concept and ultimate goal projections. Unfortunately, because statistics for reimbursable programs with vocational objectives are not available, the report does not give a complete picture of all of the vocationally oriented activities and programs which have been carried on in the public schools of the District of Columbia for the specified years.

[blocks in formation]

PUBLIC LAW 90-576-PART B-STATE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

[blocks in formation]

1 Beginning with fiscal 1968, distributive education programs, except those at the adult level, were funded under part G-cooperative vocational education programs.

* Beginning with fiscal 1972, all home economics programs, except gainful, were funded under part F-consumer and homemaking education.

[blocks in formation]

1 Beginning with fiscal 1968, distributive education programs, except those at the adult level, were funded under part G-cooperative vocational education programs.

2 Beginning with fiscal 1972, all home economics programs, except gainful, were funded under part F-consumer and homemaking education.

b. General Description

The support provided by the vocational education acts has enabled the District of Columbia to continue the traditional emphasis of fulfilling the requirements of the labor market and, at the same time, to increasingly satisfy the needs of students by clustering programs and utilizing the open ended career ladder concept. A comprehensive review of vocational courses of study has been initiated to assure that students at all levels have the opportunity and are motivated to achieve their maximum potential.

High School

During fiscal 1973, various technical and occupational programs of the academic high schools were brought under the central control of the department of career development programs, in addition to its responsibility for the administration of the five area vocational high schools. All technical and occupational programs at the high school level, such as typing and shorthand, now operate under one umbrella, with a commonality of objectives, philosophy, administration, and supervisory control. Major changes in vocational and career-oriented training programs have been initiated to improve and broaden services within available funds. An expanded pattern of training programs, including cooperative programs with business and industry, extended-day programs, and other flexibly scheduled classes to serve students from regular high schools has been developed.

The career counseling and placement program was redeveloped and enlarged to include all public high schools in the District of Columbia. With the cooperation of a special committee of the board of trade, as well as the District of Columbia Manpower Administration, and the urban league, job fairs, job interviews, and group counseling sessions were held for graduates seeking employment.

A new interdisciplinary cooperative education program recruited 500 academic high school 11th grade students to participate in special half day on-the-job training programs in a broad range of occupational areas during their senior year. Twenty teacher-coordinators were recruited and trained to coordinate the student training experiences, and to plan seminars and other supportive services.

A beginning career center for communication and media is scheduled for opening in September 1973 in a recently available building which has been completely remodeled and equipped to accommodate a variety of ongoing, budgeted programs in a fashion which will radically expand both the number of students to be served and the quality of the services.

The employment needs and opportunities in the Washington metropolitan area for graduates of business and office occupations programs and programs in the field of health services continues to increase beyond the capacity of our schools to train workers. The high percentage (98 percent) of placement of vocational high school graduates in these fields has been an encouragement to expand these programs to the extent of available funds. Much more could be done if additional funding was provided.

Close liaison with community businesses, industrial service organizations and associations, and organized labor has resulted in the

establishment of productive cooperative relationships with Trade and industrial organizations such as Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co., Shell Oil Co., General Motors Corp., and the local carpenters' union. Approximately 100 students, participated in cooperative programs sponsored by these organizations, with full-time employment assured for successful graduates.

The school system is embarking on a major planning study financed by District capital budget funds to develop detailed plans for program and facility needs for implementation of radically expanded career development, including specialized vocational-technical programs for all high school students. This study will include new facilities, remodeling of present vocational high schools, year-round school year, and their related areas.

e. Postsecondary Courses

Postsecondary courses, supported by Federal funding are offered at three area vocational schools. In fiscal 1972, the total postsecondary enrollment was distributed as follows:

[blocks in formation]

The above enrollment may be compared with 485 enrolled in 1963. Postsecondary programs are now offered in the Armstrong Adult Education Center (operating from 8:30 a.m. through 10 p.m. each week day), two area vocational schools, and in six local hospitals.

Pilot programs training for dental assistants, dental laboratory assistants, and surgical technicians have proven their value and have become established as regularly offered courses in the health occupations, in addition to the existing programs for practical nursing, hospital food service supervision and in-service training for up-grading of licensed practical nurse personnel.

Ninety-eight percent of the students completing postsecondary programs were placed full time in the field trained or a related field. d. Disadvantaged Students

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

During fiscal 1972, 4,023 students enrolled in vocational education programs were identified as disadvantaged. This represents approximately 34 percent of all students enrolled in vocational education programs in the District of Columbia. One of the major goals for the past year was, to provide career education programs to meet the

needs of disadvantaged youth and adults. It can be shown that many secondary enrollees are disadvantaged youth; therefore, more disadvantaged youth are actually served each year than is reflected in the statistical reports. Enrollment figures reflect those persons served through funds directly associated with categorical identifica

tions.

All vocational high school courses were supported with compensatory programs, geared particularly to remediation in basic skills in reading and mathematics.

Enrollment statistics for 1963, 1968, and 1972 indicate the recognition of an almost overwhelming need in the past for programs for disadvantaged students and a projection of 5,000 in 1977, is a further step in this direction. In the District of Columbia with its predominance of minority group students, remediation programs represent one of the most essential services offered by the public schools to its vocational students.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

In the years prior to 1972, for which enrollments were requested, statistics were compiled under the heading of "Persons With Special Needs" in order to conform to the reporting forms developed by the U.S. Office of Education. In those years, "Persons With Special Needs" included both the disadvantaged and the physically handicapped. Therefore, enrollments for both categories are grouped together in 1968, under "Disadvantaged Students," since no separate breakdowns of disadvantaged and physically handicapped enrollments are available.

The Department of Career Development Programs, which administers Federal vocational funds for programs for handicapped students, cooperated with the Department of Special Education of the District of Columbia Public Schools and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation of the District of Columbia of Human Resources for the supervision and provision of vocational programs for the handicapped.

Vocational programs for the handicapped in the special education schools, as well as two pilot programs, one at the former District of Columbia Children's Center and the extended day program for the blind in consumer and homemaking education at the Dunbar Senior High School, were continued. Money was provided for the transportation of hearing impaired students from a regular school to a vocational high school on a half day basis. The hearing therapist provided support in the vocational high school.

« PreviousContinue »