Background

Career and technical education, commonly known as vocational education, is available in almost all high schools. Today, with national and state school reform efforts focused on academic achievement and with the fastest growing occupations now requiring some postsecondary education, career/technical education is seeking effective ways to contribute to these goals. The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) is part of OVAE's strategy to assist states and local education agencies in identifying and implementing effective career and technical education programs.

Overview

The NRCCTE conducts research, development and evaluation activities. The mission of the Center is to generate knowledge and understanding of Career and Technical Education and to be a key source of accessible information and innovative professional development in order to improve secondary and postsecondary technical education in the United States. Specific areas of study include:

• Accountability and program improvement
• Educational technology and distance learning methods
• Curriculum integration
• Professional development
• Improving practice

The Center represents a consortium led by the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University. Consortium members include the University of Oregon, the University of Illinois at Champaign - Urbana and the Pennsylvania State University. Johns Hopkins University and the Academy of Educational Development are associate partners.

Outcomes and Products

• Enhanced and improved career and technical education programs
• Increased capacity of state career and technical education systems
• Research and evidentiary base to inform the field of career and technical education

Timeline
FY 1999 to FY 2004

Contact
Ricardo.Hernandez@ed.gov

Website
http://www.nccte.org