Ensuring Students' Right to Preparation for Competitive Employment: The New York State Constitution as a Foundation for Systemic Improvement of Career and Technical Education. Policy Brief

In this policy brief, a summary of the longer report of the same title, the authors situate the critical issue of preparation for the workplace in the broader context of students' constitutional right to an education that provides the knowledge, skills, experiences, and dispositions that are the foundations to be a productive citizen. They tie the renewed concern among educators, policymakers, business leaders, and the public at large about preparing students for competitive employment with their growing interest in preparing students to be effective citizens capable of safeguarding democracy and stewarding the nation toward a greater realization of its democratic values. They propose some necessary reforms to improve students' access to existing New York's career and technical education pathways. They also argue, high quality career pathways, including "9-14" programs that bridge secondary and postsecondary education, serve students best if they are constructed on a strong foundation of basic educational opportunity for all. [For the full report, see ED610538.]