A recent article in Community College Week points to a study showing that dual enrollment programs provide significant benefits for high school students. Although more research needs to be conducted in this area, the study indicates that improved graduation rates, greater college attendance, and higher GPAs are all associated with taking dual enrollment classes.

I am not surprised by any of this. I am a big supporter of dual enrollment/credit programs. I have been working on expanding opportunities at my own college ever since I “went over to the dark side” of administration a couple of years ago. I have seen what can be accomplished from the faculty perspective with high school students in my college class. I have also seen it from the program side. I should also mention that it has been important to me personally. My older daughter graduated from a four-year degree in three years, partially due to dual credit ($$$ was saved). My younger daughter should have her Associate degree in pre-nursing by the time the rest of her cohort graduates from high school thanks to dual credit (and a lot of hard work on her part).

Where the article gets really interesting for me is in the discussion of technical students:

“Researchers paid particular attention to high school students enrolled in career and technical education courses, those who are traditionally considered not bound for college. They found in many measures, the gains documented for the whole sample also held true for career and technical education students.”

I will pass on the comment that CTE students are not college bound. Many are headed to health or technical careers that either require or benefit from post-secondary education. What is important is that they realized that CTE students benefit from dual enrollment just like other students. I already knew this was true, but the validation is welcome.

(On a side note, I was happy to see that my own technical college has already made progress on the recommendations of the researchers. It feels good to be ahead for a change!)

A blogger on the California Governor’s Office site also has something to say about Career & Technical Education and relevance (see my previous post).

Don’t be a “girly-man!” Learn a marketable job skill!

Over at the National Assoc. of Secondary School Principals Policy Blog there is a post about a study showing that Career & Technical Education can make a big positive difference in transition to post-secondary education.

“According to a recent survey by NASSP and Phi Delta Kappa International, 92% of middle level students believe they will definitely or probably go to college, yet only 68% of high school students graduate, and only 39% enter postsecondary education and training. The education pipeline is leaking students, and clearly, it’s time to call the plumber. Career and technical education (CTE) could be just the plumber we need.”

It shouldn’t be surprising to see that making education relevant to the students improves transfer, retention, and motivation. Educators and legislators alike continue to be amazed.

In his ACTE blog, Ed Chipalowsky points out how an open house can dispel many misconceptions community stakeholders have about Career and Technical Education (CTE). Most of us have long ago moved out of the era of “Vo-tech dumping grounds.” Those that have not are hurting their students, their schools, and American business.
Money quote in the post: “No more are they the off-casts of academia, for they realize what higher levels of education are required to obtain quality jobs for the 21^st century.”

Read the whole post.