The Effects Of Increased Academic Requirements For Graduation On Secondary Vocational Education Programs

This study examined the effects of increased academic requirements for graduation on secondary vocational education programs in Washington since 1983. Each of the 211 school districts meeting the criteria of the study were surveyed with a questionnaire. Instruments were administered to the vocational directors of each of the identified school districts. The questions asked on the questionnaire were to determine: (1) the total number of units required for graduation, (2) the total number of general education units required for graduation, (3) the kind of classes allowed for general and vocational education (dual credit), (4) the number of academic and vocational classes offered experiencing increases, decreases, or no changes in graduation requirements, (5) the enrollment increase, decrease, or no change in the academic or vocational programs and (6) the student demand or interest increase, decrease, or no change in academic and vocational programs. Finally, implications and recommendations were made based on the responses from the questionnaires. Strategies for increasing academic standards without causing negative effects in vocational education programs were suggested