Cost Effectiveness of Selected Cooperative Vocational Education Programs as Compared with Vocational Programs Without a Cooperative Component. Final Report.

This exploratory study, primarily an information collection and analysis effort, was made to determine whether there is a difference in the effectiveness and the cost of cooperative vocational education programs and of vocational programs without a cooperative component. Study data from 12 school districts in three States (Minnesota, North Carolina, and Ohio) for the 1969-70 and 1970-71 school years were used to explore the feasibility of conducting such a cost-effectiveness analysis. It was found that it is possible to analyze historical cost and effectiveness data on selected vocational education programs but that it is not possible to directly compare cooperative programs to those without a cooperative component, as it is unlikely that similar programs are offered using both methods. However, cost-effectiveness analyses may be used as one element in policy formulation concerning vocational education methodologies. Detailed information collected and interpreted in the study are provided, leading to the overall conclusion that there is no obvious difference in the cost of providing either type of program nor are there any obvious differences between graduates of the two types of programs. A very limited employer survey indicated that employers tend to favor graduates of the cooperative programs. Recommendations for further in-depth studies are presented. (MF)