OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training: A Learning for Jobs Review of the United States, Texas 2011

Learning for Jobs is an OECD study of vocational education and training (VET) designed to help countries make their VET systems more responsive to labour market needs. In Texas, secondary level career and technical education (CTE) is provided within a comprehensive high school framework. Texas has encouraged a wide variety of innovative learning initiatives, established good articulation between high school CTE and postsecondary programs and benefits from a strong network of community colleges and universities. At the same time the state faces some challenges in ensuring minimum quality standards in CTE, in providing sufficient good quality career advice, and providing an adequate range of workplace learning opportunities. The OECD review assesses the main challenges faced by the CTE system and presents an interconnected package of policy recommendations. For each recommendation, the report describes the challenge, the recommendation itself, supporting arguments, and issues of implementation. Read more... Summary: strengths, challenges and recommendations 5 -Strengths 5 -Challenges 5 -Recommendations 6 Chapter 1. Introduction. 7 -1.1 The OECD policy review of Texas. 8 -1.2 The structure of the report 9 -1.3 A snapshot of the system 9 -1.4 CTE in the United States in international context. 11 -1.5 Appreciation of the Texas approach 11 -1.6 Strengths and challenges 15 Chapter 2. Policy recommendations 17 -2.1 Quality assurance in CTE 18 -2.2 Career guidance 26 -2.3 Enhancing work-based learning 34 -2.4 Literacy and numeracy among CTE students 45 References 55 Annex A. Programme of the review visits and meetings 61.