No Child Left Behind’s Impact on Career and Technical Education Julie Chadd, Ph.D., Eastern Illinois University Karen Drage, Ph.D., Eastern Illinois University Funded by Illinois University Council for CTE

Background The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 Increased accountability for results More flexibility in using federal funds Proven teaching methods More choices for parents and students

Need for Study CTE will lose enrollment unless leaders can clearly show Contribute to academic success measured by tests Serve as motivation to stay in school and perform better in academic courses (Daggett, n.d.) Survival may depend upon ability to be recognized as effective force in helping students and schools meet goals

Illinois’ Primary Goals All students will reach high standards in reading and math by All students will graduate from high school

Purpose Contribute to a better understanding of impact NCLB has had on CTE programs Attempt to describe perceptions of principals and CTE teachers on how NCLB has impacted programs Determine how CTE programs are trying to meet goals of legislation

Research Questions What are the perceptions of high school principals related to the benefits of CTE in helping high schools achieve the goals of NCLB? What are the perceptions of high school CTE teachers related to the benefits of CTE in helping high schools achieve the goals of NCLB? How are business courses able to help high schools meet the goals of NCLB?

Response Rate Initial mailing and one follow-up mailing 133 Principals – 26.65% 128 Teachers – 25.65% Used in data analysis 123 Principals – 24.64% 114 Teachers – 22.85%

In which content area do you teach? Agriculture – 5% Business – 44% Family & Consumer Sciences – 19% Health Occupations – 7% Technology – 25%

CTE courses help to prepare students to take standardized tests that assess English language arts Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals74%26% CTE Teachers78%22%

CTE courses help to prepare students to take standardized tests that assess math Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals86%14% CTE Teachers90%10%

CTE courses can help meet the goal of “all students will reach high standards, at a minimum of attaining proficiency or better in reading and mathematics” Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals87%13% CTE Teachers91%9%

CTE courses can help meet the goal of “all students will graduate from high school” Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals96%4%* CTE Teachers96%4%* *Only item that no principal or teacher selected Strongly Disagree

NCLB has had a positive impact on CTE enrollment at your school Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals63%37% CTE Teachers11%89%

NCLB has had a positive impact on the image of CTE at your school Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals8%92% CTE Teachers15%85%

English LA ILS can easily be incorporated into many CTE courses offered at your school Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals79%21% CTE Teachers89%11%

Math ILS can easily be incorporated into many CTE courses offered at your school Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals89%11% CTE Teachers98%2%

Developmental reading activities can easily be incorporated into many CTE courses offered at your school Strongly Agree or Agree Strongly Disagree or Disagree Principals85%15% CTE Teachers89%11%* *No teacher selected Strongly Disagree

How has the enrollment in CTE courses in your school changed since NCLB was enacted in 2002? IncreasedDecreased Stayed About Same Principals8%35%54% CTE Teachers13%30%55%

What activities or teaching approaches do you use that help students reach high standards in reading? Read aloud Read silently Write book reports Discuss business section of newspaper Review article Summarize text Outline readings Proofread documents Read in groups Read journal articles Respond to higher-order thinking questions on exams Write research papers

What activities or teaching approaches do you use that help students reach high standards in math? Calculations Interest on loans Percentages Taxes Dividends Payroll deductions Grades Cost of credit Apply math concepts to everyday living Complete math scenarios in computer programming Develop budget Calculate cost of running business Complete daily math mind teasers Create formulas and functions in spreadsheets Complete stock market projects

What activities or teaching approaches do you use that will lead to more students graduating from high school? Real-life applications Hands-on learning Job shadowing Opportunity to excel in course creates motivation High expectations Use multiple learning styles Activities and expectations parallel workplace Team work Problem solving Career decision making Analyze values Goal setting

How often do you incorporate ___ into your lessons? Daily 3 or 4 times a week 1 or 2 times a week Never ILS English/LA25%26%38%11% ILS Mathematics27%22%46%5% Developmental Reading Activities 20%24%47%9%

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Teachers “Being new to this school (my 2 nd year) this survey is drawing attention to some areas I should work to improve” “I believe that many law makers do not realize the impact Vocational Ed has on society at large”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Teachers “I am concerned about the future of electives because the state is mandating more science, English, and math and this could affect how many electives a student will have time for”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Teachers “NCLB is not preparing the students for life. In the CTE courses, the students learn not only by reading and by doing math problems but actually taking it one step further and applying it to everyday situations” “The more emphasis placed on academic areas without practicality, the lower test scores will be produced. What we need are better vocational programs”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Principals “As graduation requirements increase, CTE classes get the squeeze. Only the strong community-supported programs will survive and even that is no guarantee” “Due to increasing requirements for math and science, our CTE courses will suffer from reduced enrollment. We may have to cut staff”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Principals “NCLB has goals that will never be met by any district. CTE programs are jeopardized because of NCLB. Too many people in education have tunnel vision and are unaware of how students can achieve a meaningful education”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Principals “NCLB hurts, not helps, CTE. Sadly these courses are often played down, and the truth is that many students depend upon these courses for career moves. Students need these courses. I wish that people would realize not all students do, and are able, to go to college”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Principals “They could be a great resource to reinforce and apply academic skills. A new outlook by staff where they realize this role is necessary. Evaluate curriculum and build more lessons to do this”

Additional comments regarding the impact of NCLB on CTE - Principals “We have incorporated reading and mathematics across the curriculum- even in CTE courses. However, CTE was already using the math and reading extensively before that decision. CTE courses are necessary for kinesthetic learners”

Conclusions Participants believe CTE has ability to help schools meet high academic standards Participants believe CTE is able to help students graduate from high school

Recommendations CTE teaching methods should undergo process required to show they meet rigorous standards and yield positive results outlined in NCLB CTE teachers must be made aware of importance of incorporating core academic areas CTE teachers should identify academic learning standards addressed in each of their classes

Recommendations (cont.) CTE teachers must learn how to document academic integration Documentation must be shared with administrators, schools boards, and legislators State results should be evaluated to determine if enrollment in CTE courses affects students’ scores

Your comments/thoughts???