Career and Technical Education Program Alignment with Local

160 Pages·2013·1.12 MB·English

by  Karla Beth Hargis

Eastern Kentucky University
Encompass
Online Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship
January 2011
Career and Technical Education Program
Alignment with Local Workforce Needs
Karla Beth Hargis
Eastern Kentucky University
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Career and Technical Education Program
Alignment with Local Workforce Needs

By
Karla Beth Hargis
Master of Arts in Education
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky
2005
Master of Arts in Teaching
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky
2002
Bachelor of Business Administration
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky
1988

Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of
Eastern Kentucky University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
December, 2011
Copyright © Karla Beth Hargis, 2011
All rights reserved

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DEDICATION

This dissertation is dedicated to family

Mr. David Hargis, Logan and Zachary Hargis

AND

Mrs. Betty Phelps

AND

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Pierce, Bailey and Parker Pierce

AND

The late Mr. L. Howard Phelps

who have supported me invaluably in a multitude of educational efforts.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my husband and sons for their understanding and patience
when the computer and countless volumes of research seemed to be my only repast and
for keeping me on track when it seemed the end was not in sight. David, your name
should be right beside mine. I would also like to thank my committee members for their
encouragement and for reminding me that this too shall pass. I would like to thank my
mother and sister for their love and support which was often counted on. I would like to
thank my friends and family who have prayed for this day and a special thank you to
Mike Centers for asking each Sunday morning, ―Are you a doctor yet?‖ Finally, thank
you to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for guidance and focus.

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ABSTRACT

This research attempted to answer whether or not career and technical education
(CTE) in a section of Kentucky’s Appalachian Region was meeting the employment
needs of local business and industry through appropriate program alignment and
provision of 21st century soft skills. This study utilized a quantitative approach devoid of
researcher invention. Job quotients were used as a measure of program alignment. Job
quotients were calculated using the number of jobs available in particular labor markets
as the numerator and the aggregate enrollment of respective CTE programs as the
denominator. A job quotient of one demonstrates alignment in that a position in the
industry exists for every student receiving training. Alignment is critical for business and
industry to have access to a trained labor force and critical to students entering the
workforce to be able to find jobs. Realizing the importance of soft skills in the 21st
century as well as technical skills, this study analyzed the passage rate of the Kentucky
Occupational Skills Standards Assessment (KOSSA) as a measure of 21st century soft
skills.
Findings from the study demonstrated broad inconsistencies in job quotients with
some CTE program enrollments greater than industry needs and others smaller than
industry needs. Findings from KOSSA rates revealed significant inconsistencies in soft
skill attainment among programs and did not reveal consistent growth toward
proficiency. The study concluded KOSSA passage rates did not demonstrate student
proficiency in soft skills.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1

Statement of the Problem .........................................................................................1
Purpose of Study ......................................................................................................9
Research Questions ................................................................................................11
Framework .............................................................................................................11
Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations of the Study ...................................15
Definitions..............................................................................................................17
Summary ................................................................................................................19

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE .....................................................................................21
Introduction ............................................................................................................21
CTE Policy Development .....................................................................................22
Smith-Hughes Act ............................................................................................22
Political influences .....................................................................................23
Influence of leading educators ...................................................................23
1964 Vocational Education Act .......................................................................24
Political influences .....................................................................................25
Carl D. Perkins .....................................................................................26
Contributing factors to passage ..................................................................26
1984 Carl D. Perkins Act .................................................................................27
A nation at risk ...........................................................................................28
Political influences .....................................................................................28
Current Funding ...............................................................................................30
Inadequacies ...............................................................................................31
21st Century Workforce Demands ...................................................................32
Hard skills ..................................................................................................33
Soft skills ...................................................................................................33
Kentucky occupational skills standards .....................................................35
Labor shortages ..........................................................................................36
Employment opportunities .........................................................................37
CTE Initiatives and Governance ............................................................................38
National Perspective .......................................................................................38
Kentucky Initiatives & Governance.................................................................39
Area technology centers .............................................................................39
Assessment ...........................................................................................41
Programs ..............................................................................................42
CTE Benefits .........................................................................................................43
Labor Market Preparation ................................................................................43
Increased Student Engagement ........................................................................44
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Hands-on learning ......................................................................................44
Work based learning ..................................................................................45
Academic achievement ..............................................................................45
Post-Secondary Transition ...............................................................................46
Graduation Rates ..............................................................................................47
Human Capital Theory ...........................................................................................48
Community Success ...............................................................................................50
Appalachian variable .......................................................................................51
Literature Conclusion.............................................................................................51

III. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................56

Introduction ............................................................................................................56
Context of Study ....................................................................................................57
Instrumentation ......................................................................................................58
Population ..............................................................................................................60
Data Collection ......................................................................................................62
Research Design and Analysis ...............................................................................64
Summary ................................................................................................................68

IV. FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................69

Introduction ............................................................................................................69
Phase 1 ...................................................................................................................71
Phase 2 ...................................................................................................................72
Phase 3 ...................................................................................................................73
Program Job Quotient Results ...............................................................................74
Accounting and Finance ..................................................................................74
Automotive Technology ..................................................................................75
Construction Carpentry ....................................................................................76
Electricity .........................................................................................................77
Health Sciences ................................................................................................78
Horticulture ......................................................................................................79
Industrial Maintenance.....................................................................................80
Information Technology ..................................................................................81
Machine Tool ...................................................................................................82
Office Technology ...........................................................................................83
Welding ............................................................................................................84
Wood Manufacturing .......................................................................................85
Phase 4 ...................................................................................................................86
Accounting and Finance ..................................................................................89
Automotive Technology ..................................................................................89
Construction Carpentry ....................................................................................89
Electricity .........................................................................................................90
Health Sciences ................................................................................................90
Horticulture ......................................................................................................91
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