Scope of Study
REGIONAL VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL SYSTEM
The Connecticut Regional Vocational-Technical School System is operated by the Connecticut Department of Education. It is a statewide system with 17 schools, two satellite programs, and one Technical Education Center. It provides a full-time secondary school education to approximately 13,000 children, with graduates receiving a Connecticut high school diploma and a certificate in a specific occupation. It also provides full-time apprentice training or part-time retraining and skill upgrading programs to approximately 10,000 adults.
The system offers training in 39 occupational areas. These include auto repair, carpentry, culinary arts, drafting, electronics, engine repair, fashion technology, graphic communications, hairdressing/cosmetology, manufacturing technology, microcomputer software technology, plumbing, and welding. Some trade areas are offered at nearly every school, while others are available in only one location. Each school offers at least 10 trade programs.
The State Board of Education is responsible for the educational interests of the state including vocational education. A subcommittee of the board serves as the Vocational-Technical School Committee. The committee develops policy and recommends actions to the full board.
A superintendent of vocational-technical (v-t) schools, appointed by the state board, reports to the commissioner of education. Each individual school has a director, a citizen's consulting committee, an admissions advisory committee, a parent-teacher organization, and a number of local craft committees.
The estimated state FY 99 budget for the vocational-technical schools program is $89.2 million. Most of this money is from the General Fund. The system has 1,432 funded positions.
Area of Focus
The study will concentrate on the ability of the state vocational-technical school system to identify and respond to changing job skill needs of the marketplace. It also will examine the job readiness of those completing v-t school programs.
Areas of Analysis
Capacity by school location
Applicant and enrollment levels by school location
Composition of the student body by sex, race, and age (i.e., secondary student or adult)
Changes in program offerings over time
Graduation rates by trade area and school location
Post-graduate placement activity (e.g., work, college, military, etc.) by trade program
Graduate and employer satisfaction with the education and training received
Expenditures over time
Alternative vocational training opportunities
Mechanisms used to identify new trade programs
Processes used to introduce new trade programs into the curriculum
Procedures used to update existing trade programs
Measures used to identify programs for elimination
Approaches taken to attract and retain a diverse student population
Areas Not Included in Analysis
The examination of alternative vocational training opportunities will identify and summarize types of programs, but it will not include an in-depth review of individual programs.