Vocational Education
Vocational Education is an educational opportunity that combines
academics and training in a specific skill or trade. This is different
from career exploration which helps clarify interests by providing
information. It is not strictly a special education service or
program but one that should be available to any interested student.
For students who do receive special education services, their
Individual Educational Program (IEP) should have a vocational
component written into their plan if they are in a vocational
education program.
Vocational education can be provided in several different ways.
It can be through a vocational/technical high school, a community-based
vocational education program or an in-school vocational program.
With some community-based programs, schools have contracts with
outside agencies who specialize in vocational support to provide
the service.
As with any educational plan, the program should be based on
the individual student's situation. It is critical that vocational
education be discussed and explored with all students. Decisions
need to be based on the student's long term goals, preferences
and interests.
FMI: See Chapter 9 - GETTING OLDER.
Students who participate in a traditional vocational education
program typically attend a regional vocational school for 1/2
of their school day to receive education in a particular trade
and attend their own high school for the other 1/2 of their day
to receive the academic portion of their education. Many of the
vocational programs are designed as two year programs. Students
typically attend vocational programs during their junior and senior
years of high school, however; there are students who attend during
their freshman and sophomore years of high school.
There are a wide variety of vocational educational program offerings.
Examples include: carpentry, video technology, culinary arts,
health occupations, architectural drafting.
FMI: See MSER, Chapter 101, Section 9.14.
