Finding 1 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Chairman-Dr. Francis A. Gregory Ex. Director-Mrs. Lillie F. Sampson BASIC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS It is the Council's view that too low a priority continues to be placed on District of Columbia Public School programs aimed at preparing youth for the world of work. This is reflected in a generally static and sub-standard status of plant and equipment for vocational education, limited operating funds, and lack of prestige. The following tabulation shows that the increase in District operating funds from 1964 to 1970 has not matched the rapid rise in Federal Funds under the provision of the 1963 and 1968 Amendments. OPERATING FUNDS BY SOURCE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 1963-70 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1 Financial statement of Federal funds for vocational education (OE form 4042, 2/69). Total 735, 589.56 1,344, 547. 14 1, 639, 358.99 2,019, 397.80 2, 357, 324. 19 2, 731, 299. 19 3,663, 975.00 In FY 1963-64, the matching ratio between District and Federal funds for operation was almost 5 to 1. In FY 1970, it was somewhat less than 2 to 1. Nationally in FY 1970, the ratio was approximately 5 to 1. It was the expectation of Congress that increased Federal Funds would generate a corresponding increase in matching funds in the jurisdictions. Even recognizing the fiscal problems unique to the District of Columbia, the Council fails to see any vigorous pursuit of this goal by the Board of Education or the District of Columbia Govern ment. The Council would point out that out of total appropriations of $19,174,320 for identifiable capital improvement in the senior-level high schools of Washington, only $102,980--or one half of 1%-was for vocational schools in the ten year period from FY 1960 through FY 1969. For seven of those ten years, no funds were appropriated for capital improvements in the vocational schools.1 1 Source: D.C. Government, Department of General Services by way of the division of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. D.C. Public Schools. DELAWARE Chairman-Mrs. Louise Bachman, Sr. Ex. Secretary-George McGorman THE DELAWARE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDS: I. that the Governor of Delaware designate, with all practical expedience, a specific agent with responsibility and accountability for the development of a comprehensive State Plan for the Development of Human Resources; that this agent have commensurate authority to require that all organizations in the State utilizing public funds for manpower training and vocational education programs participate and contribute to the development of this Plan; that the Plan include current, valid and reliable data pertaining to employment needs and opportunities in the community as well as specific identification of persons who are unemployed, underemployed and are available for fulltime or part-time training or retraining; that the Plan define levels of training necessary to meet the human and employment needs of the community and that it fix specific responsibility, authority, and accountability upon specific institutions, organizations and individuals for establishing and implementing such programs; that the Plan establish measurable short range and long range objectives; that it set forth a definite plan of action to meet those objectives and; that it provide a definite program of continuing evaluation. All existing State Plans for vocational education, manpower development, job training and retraining, etc., should become smaller integral parts of the State Plan for the Development of Human Resources; this comprehensive plan should address itself to the specific needs outlined in Section V of this report; II. that the Occupational Research Coordinating Unit, currently assigned to the Department of Public Instruction, be reorganized under the authority of the agent designated above; that the primary responsibility of the unit be to collect, coordinate and disseminate data necessary among all institutions, organizations, and individuals in the State that participate in the development and implementation of the State Plan for the Development of Human Resources; III. that appropriate legislation be developed and enacted to provide one employment placement counselor for each 500 students in grades 7-12; that the primary responsibility of such counsellors be to provide part-time and full-time employment services for currently enrolled students and students who have completed or left high school within the past three years; IV. that the State Board of Education develop and implement a program of inservice education extending beyond not more than five years to acquaint, familiarize and involve all teachers, guidance counselors, librarians and school administrators in the State with informa tion and methodology necessary to incorporate occupational-vocational exploration into the regular curricula of the schools; that the State Board incorporate sufficient incentives such as reimbursement of additional costs to local districts, salary increments and graduate credit for participants to insure acceptance of the program; V. that the Department of Public Instruction be primarily responsible for the coordination, supervision and evaluation of occupationalvocational education needs at elementary and secondary grade levels with authority to arrange for services with other institutions, organizations and individuals when it is decided that such services can be rendered more effectively and efficiently by such arrangement; that Delaware Technical and Community College be primarily responsible for coordination, supervision and evaluation of postsecondary, continuing and adult occupational, technical, and vocational education needs with the same authority to arrange services as efficiency and effectiveness dictate; VI. that the State Board of Education and the State Department of Public Instruction take more active interest in the vocational educational needs of the dropout, the disadvantaged and the handicapped; that a task force be designated with specific responsibility, authority and accountability to follow-up on such persons, provide counselling for them, refer them to existing programs in the mainstream of education and/or develop and implement special programs as necessary; VII. that the Council of College Presidents take immediate action on the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Occupational Education to implement a coordinated program of teacher training in vocational education; that the Council alert the Governor and the Legislature concerning necessary legislation and appropriation to implement this program; and that top priority be given to fill this serious void in the State by all responsible parties; VIII. that, under provisions of current legislation, or if necessary, by the support of additional legislation, the State Board of Education approve and endorse a program to establish vocational youth organizations in each school district in the State; IX. that vocational units may be approved for each district to provide local advisors to develop, coordinate and supervise programs of youth activities that are integral to vocational programs as advertised in the State Plan; X. that policy concerning travel, expenses and secretarial services for State Advisors of Vocational Youth Organizations be adjusted commensurate with responsibility; XI. that the administrators of the area vocational-technical districts and the Department of Public Instruction develop plans for the systematic retirement, repair and replacement of worn, damaged and obsolete equipment; that such plans serve as the basis for the addition of "Division Four" to vocational unit allocations; and that prior to retirement or replacement, plans provide for maximum utilization of equipment and facilities by extending programs beyond normal school hours, days and months of the year; XII. that the Governor of Delaware, in making appointments to policy-making bodies, councils and task forces in education, continue and expand consideration of the consumers, particularly students and parents, in the decision-making process that affects them; XIII. that the Governor and the State Board examine all possibilities of the establishment of residential vocational schools in Delaware to serve the needs of disadvantaged urban and rural youth, including those in penal institutions, to create an environment more conducive to the learning, socialization and rehabilitation of such individuals; XIV. that the public press and other media give more relative and proportionate attention to the success of individuals, organizations and educational programs in developing citizens with skills that enable them to participate in and contribute to the highest standards of living in the history of civilization; XV. that the citizens of Delaware continue to accept every opportunity to improve their educational system by service on appointed or elected boards, councils and task forces, by attendance and participation at public meetings, school board meetings and educational conferences, and by support of elected public officials that demonstrate interest and action in educational development. Finding 1 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Chairman-Dr. Francis A. Gregory Ex. Director-Mrs. Lillie F. Sampson BASIC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS It is the Council's view that too low a priority continues to be placed on District of Columbia Public School programs aimed at preparing youth for the world of work. This is reflected in a generally static and sub-standard status of plant and equipment for vocational education, limited operating funds, and lack of prestige. The following tabulation shows that the increase in District operating funds from 1964 to 1970 has not matched the rapid rise in Federal Funds under the provision of the 1963 and 1968 Amendments. OPERATING FUNDS BY SOURCE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 1963-70 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Financial statement of Federal funds for vocational education (OE form 4042, 2/69). In FY 1963-64, the matching ratio between District and Federal funds for operation was almost 5 to 1. In FY 1970, it was somewhat less than 2 to 1. Nationally in FY 1970, the ratio was approximately 5 to 1. It was the expectation of Congress that increased Federal Funds would generate a corresponding increase in matching funds in the jurisdictions. Even recognizing the fiscal problems unique to the District of Columbia, the Council fails to see any vigorous pursuit of this goal by the Board of Education or the District of Columbia Govern ment. The Council would point out that out of total appropriations of $19,174,320 for identifiable capital improvement in the senior-level high schools of Washington, only $102,980-or one half of 1%-was for vocational schools in the ten year period from FY 1960 through FY 1969. For seven of those ten years, no funds were appropriated for capital improvements in the vocational schools.1 Source: D.C. Government, Department of General Services by way of the division of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. D.C. Public Schools. |