Search

This report describes two complementary projects: a technical assistance project to also provide information and resources to Kentucky vocational program serving limited English proficiency (LEP) students and a research project involving those programs. Chapter 1 is an introduction. Chapter 2 focuses on the technical assistance project. It reports methods and procedures used to deliver six major services: cooperative statewide monitoring system to identify new LEP enrollments or populations, on-site technical assistance, free material loan service, newsletter service, information dissemination regarding responsibilities for services to LEP students, and information dissemination regarding services available. Conclusions and recommendations based on findings are outlined. Chapter 3 discusses methods and procedures of the study to (1) quantitatively describe LEP student behavior and effect in vocational settings, (2) examine and report factors which may influence effective LEP student participation in vocational education, (3) describe present services/resources available for LEP students in a sample of Kentucky vocational programs, and (4) obtain and report vocational teacher input regarding needs and policies relative to LEP students. Conclusions and recommendations are reported as regards student characteristics, student behavior and interactions in vocational classes, student attitudes, student achievement, and teacher attitudes. Questionnaires, surveys, and data sheets are appended. (YLB)

A project was conducted to (1) inform Kentucky educators of the need for English as a second language (ESL) and bilingual or ESL vocational programs in order to provide equal educational opportunities for students of limited English-speaking ability (LESA); (2) provide teacher training in ESL and bilingual/vocational ESL to interested educators; and (3) establish an information and resource dissemination center to provide educators with information regarding teacher training. In order to achieve these objectives, project staff carried out the following activities: provision of five regional workshops for educators of LESA students; dissemination of four newsletters for educators of LESA students throughout Kentucky; provision of a state conference for educators of LESA students; update of a comprehensive bibliography of vocational materials for LESA students; and provision of free material loan service for these educators. The project yielded the following products: an established resource and technical assistance center to aid educators of LESA students; a bibliography of vocational education materials; and two teacher-training models. (Author/CT)

A six-month study of the Kentucky State Department of Education programs in practical arts education (career exploration) in junior high schools was done in two parts. In the first part a questionnaire was given to teachers, counselors, students, and principals from twenty schools during the 1976-77 school year. The questionnaire was designed to poll programmatic aspects of the state practical arts program and to monitor attitudes relative to program effectiveness, acceptance, and degree of impact upon students. In general, the respondents were satisfied with most aspects of the program; however, the students felt more supplies, materials, equipment, and career information were needed. The second part of the study involved two administrations of an instrument entitled the Assessment of Career Development (ACD). The ACD was first given to a sample of Kentucky non-practical arts students in 1975. Later that year a sample of students involved in the practical arts program were administered the ACD. Students with practical arts education experience scored higher on the ACD than those who were not in the practical arts program. In addition, national norm mean scores were higher than practical arts student mean scores in all but one area of exploratory occupational experiences, but the practical arts students' scores were higher than national norm mean scores in all but one cognitive area measured by the ACD. (BB)