Teachers' and Principals' Perceptions of Precursors to Integrating Academic and Career and Technical Education

The new federal legislation focusing on student achievement, critical reports of the public educational system, and the artificial distinction between academic and career and technical education, have combined to create an urgent need for the integration of academic and career and technical education (Finch & Crunkilton, 1999). The literature suggests that integration is one alternative to raising student achievement of all students and helps to prepare them for the workplace (Benson, 1989; Lankard, 1994; Brown, 1998; Stasz, Kaganoff, & Eden, 1994).

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which teachers and principals in HSTW sites perceive precursors (consisting of integration strategies and conditions) to integrate academic and career and technical education are present in their schools. In addition, comparisons of perceptions were examined based on school type, school size, and school location. The sample included 168 academic and career and technical education teachers and 36 principals from 36 HSTW sites in Virginia.

Based on the findings from the factor analysis, precursors to integrate academic and career and technical curricula can be grouped into two relatively coherent latent factors: collaboration and academic skill preparation. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that there were significant differences in the perceptions of teachers and principals. The multivariate analysis of variance also revealed significant differences based on school type only.

Recommendations were made to assist teachers and principals to devise a plan to identify integration precursors that teachers perceive are not present in their schools. This information will be useful to principals and educational leaders for evaluating integration activities so they can provide support and guidance to increase integration activities in schools.