OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training A Skills beyond School Review of the United States

And recommendations -The global challenge of skills -Funding for quality -Anchoring credentials in the needs of industry -Building transitions that work -Making it happen: Implementation Chapter 1. The global challenge of skills -Introduction: The challenge for the United States -The OECD review -The US "system" of CTE -Labor market returns from postsecondary CTE -Patterns of transition after leaving high school -Open access, remediation and drop-out -Work-based learning -Employer engagement -Funding -Decentralization -Strengths of the US approach -Challenges and implications for the review -References Chapter 2. Funding for quality -Introduction: Quality and investment in postsecondary skills -A patchwork of quality assurance -New challenges from a fast-changing postsecondary sector -Weak enforcement of existing rules -Rising indebtedness -Quality assurance for CTE -Information and advice -Conclusion and recommendations: Strengthen quality assurance and its links to Title IV student aid -Annex 2.A. Factors associated with the institutional default rate -References Chapter 3. Anchoring credentials in the needs of industry -Introduction: The organization of credentials -Weak data on certificates and certifications -Professional examinations in the US and other countries -The significance of certifications -Confusing choices and quality challenges -Establishing a quality standard for certifications -Signaling employer support and exam quality -Aligning CTE programs with industry credentials -Conclusion and recommendations: Establish a quality standard for certifications and obtain better data on both certifications and certificates -References Chapter 4. Building transitions that work -Introduction: The critical role of managing transitions between educational pathways -Transition into postsecondary programs -Transition into postsecondary programs: Recommendations to enhance CTE and workplace learning at high school, and use prior learning assessments for adults -Transition within postsecondary education -Transition within postsecondary education: Recommendations to build articulation frameworks -Transition to the labor market: Effective guidance and work-based learning -Transition to the labor market: Recommendations to strengthen workplace training and career guidance -References Chapter 5. Making it happen: Implementation -Our recommendations -Implementation Annex A. State case studies: Florida, Maryland and Washington State