Civilian employment increased by 350,000, or 5.1 percent, to 7,177,000 during 1966. All-time highs were recorded in six of the nine major industry divisions. There were very strong gains in the aerospace sector, nonelectrical machinery, fabricated metals, primary metals, private ship building, and printing-publishing. 2. Program Offerings There are 55 counties. Vocational education is offered for persons at the secondary, post-secondary, adult levels (preparatory and supple mentary), and for persons with special needs. The State lists 96 area vocational schools of which 66 are junior colleges. 3. Program Priorities High School Approximately 226 new teachers will be needed for new programs in agriculture (45), distributive (14), office (75), homemaking (gainful) (25), and health, technical, and trade and industrial (67). Post-High School The junior college program continues at a rapid growth and will require new teachers for new vocational programs. During fiscal year 1968, four junior colleges will be in operation in both leased and newly constructed facilities. Reports indicate that 27 colleges will renovate or expand their facilities this next year. Adult A part of this program, particularly for the hard-core unemployed, is operated under the MDTA program in separate "skill centers' The following new occupational fields will be made available to adults during the year: agriculture chemical sales and services, small animal care, mursery school assistants, nursery school teachers, registered nurse refresher training, and medical records clerk. There are 8 districts that now plan to renovate and remodel older elementary and secondary schools so that they can be used as both day and evening adult education centers. Persons with Special Needs - Approximately 30 new teachers will be needed to initiate programs designed to accommodate individuals identi fied as having special needs. Two in-service teacher education progra will be operating this summer to assist teachers in developing methods and designing instructional aids and materials necessary to accommodate the educational needs of students. 4. Construction of Area Vocational Schools All the public junior colleges, a few high school skill centers, and a select number of high schools have been classified as area vocationa CALIFORNIA 81 operational junior colleges. The State Department of Education operated two residential area vocational education schools. At least 36 construction projects will be evaluated by the State staff to determine priority for funding. 5. Ancillary Services Approval has been received to add one professional position to the State staff in the Bureau of Industrial Education during fiscal year 1968. The State Department of Employment plans to continue to publish and distribute to schools and libraries its series of Occupational Guides. Continued emphasis will be placed on curriculum development. The Research Coordinating Unit will also assist in the dissemination of research findings which are related to curriculum development. A contract has been signed with Arthur D. Little, Inc., to conduct a comprehensive State-wide study of vocational education. 6. Transfer of Funds State transferred Smith-Hughes funds allotted for home economics to the George-Barden Title I home economics allotment. The total increase in employment from January 1966 to January 1967 was 402,00 persons. Predictions for 1967 include an increase of 21,400 new jobs. The fastest growing groups are government, manu facturing, services, trade, finance and insurance, and communications. Throughout the State there are unfilled openings for workers in professional, technical, managerial, sales, and clerical occupations. Services provide the greatest number of openings but there are also openings for processing, machine trades, bench, and structural work occupations. 2. Program Offerings Colorado has 63 counties of which 55, or 87 percent, have one or more vocational programs. Sixteen counties have three or fewer programs of vocational education. All four area vocational schools have offer ings at the secondary, post-secondary, and adult levels and for perso with special needs, but not in all occupational categories. 3. Program Priorities High School Three new high schools with vocational facilities will be under construction. Several new additions will be made to existin facilities for vocational programs and space will be made available in present facilities for nearly 68 new vocational programs. Additional occupations to be provided include agricultural products, building trades, clothing maintenance, data processing, drafting, food service, and secretarial science. Post High School New vocational facilities will be occupied or under construction in at least 8 centers offering post-secondary programs. About 73 new teachers will be required. Additional occupations to be provided include accounting, astrogeophysical technicia career pilot, medical laboratory and office assistants, and psychiatric technician. Adult - Secondary and post-secondary facilities will be used for the adult programs. Among the new or additional occupational fields to be provided are civil technology, data processing, electronic technology, feed grains occupations, food services, ornamental horticulture, small business management, inhalation therapy assistants, operating room assistants, and library technology. Persons with Special Needs - Eighteen new teaching personnel are required. Additional equipment will be purchased as needed. Possibl needs are for several programs for the deaf and blind as well as for general shop, home economics, and office occupations programs. There COLORADO 4. Construction of Area Schools Two area school facilities will be provided--Adams County and Southeast Colorado Area Schools. The schools will offer programs in all vocational fields. 5. Ancillary Services The legislature allocated funds for planning new college campuses in El Paso and Denver Counties. The annual workshop as well as other State-wide and regional workshops will be used to upgrade teachers. A research section will be organized with coordination of research activities sponsored by the Board as its main function. Pilot projects will be implemented in the areas of special needs and guidance. The State Board will assume many functions now being carried by the Research Coordinating Unit. Follow-up studies are being conducted and machinery developed to do a better job of following up graduates of secondary and post-secondary programs. Evaluation of State staff and programs is a continuing effort. The Research Coordinating Unit has worked closely with agencies, groups, and individuals in the assessing of manpower and employment needs. Area labor market letters, periodicals, and monthly bulletins on manpower needs and projections put out by the State Labor Department are also used in assessing needs for the establishment and/or expansion of vocational and technical education programs. 2. Program Offerings A number of new programs are to be added in all the occupational fields this fiscal year. Additional teachers will be needed. 3. Program Priorities High School - It is anticipated that the State Legislature will appropriate approximately $9,600,000 for expansion of facilities for 1967-69. The projections include additions to eight of the regional vocational-technical schools and the construction of a new technical school in the Milford-Stratford area. These additions will accommodate approximately 1,200 additional students in the day trade program. Post-High School - The State needs additional staff in distributive education, office and health occupations in the community colleges. A new one-year pretechnical institute program is planned for high school graduates to enable them to meet entrance requirements of the technical institutes. Additional equipment will be needed for most of the programs with the exception of the agriculture program. Plans are underway for construction of additional facilities at three of the State technical institutes at a cost of $3,908,000. Adult Additional staff are anticipated in several of the occupational fields. New courses are planned in agriculture, health occupations, home economics, technical education, and trades and industry. Persons with Special Needs In addition to the four occupational technical centers at Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, and Norwalk, it is anticipated that the State Legislature will approve construction of two additional occupational centers to accommodate people with special needs. Projections also include specific occupational labora tories for serving students with special needs in 20 additional communities at a minimum expenditure of $500,000 for facilities, equipment, and staff. Part of the cost will be assumed by the local |