Occupational Education in Texas: Summary and Conclusions.

"Vocational Education in Texas High Schools: An Ethnic Comparison", was initiated in March 1973 and continued through the summer of 1974 when all project reports were completed; this is a summary and conclusion of the entire study. Among the major goals were to: document and describe the experiences and aspirations of a large sample of black high school youth and assess their attitudes toward school, work, vocational education, and other factors; profile a selected sample of Anglo and Mexican American students in order to compare all three groups in an urban setting; compare vocational education enrollment patterns with manpower needs in State and local areas; and provide State and local educators with project findings through on-site inservice training workshops and other dissemination procedures. The total thrust of the study was to improve occupational training opportunities and career development of all high school students in the State of Texas. One important aspect was to make recommendations to the funding agency and selected school districts concerning program development. Other recommendations, based on the needs expressed by the respondents (mostly low income) to the eight questionnaires and interviews included: better coordination between vocational education programs and labor market demands, improved guidance programs, and utilization and implementation of major recommendations made as a result of these findings. (AH)