Education
Education

National poll: Schools should offer more career and technical classes

By Molly Bloom
Aug 31, 2016

Americans say their local public schools should add career and technical classes rather than more honors or advanced academic classes, according to results from a national poll Phi Delta Kappa International released this week.

Sixty-eight percent of Americans believe schools should offer more career-focused classes over honors classes; just 21 percent would pick honors classes.

Still, more respondents said public schools’ main goal should be preparing students academically rather than preparing students for work.

High school students are taking fewer career/technical classes now then they did a decade ago, according to the most recent national data. Even enrollment in home economics classes has dropped. But students are taking more classes in other areas, including fine arts and foreign languages.

The survey from PDK International, a professional association for educators, is based on a random, representative 50-state sample of 1,221 adults this spring with a margin of sampling error of ±3.5 percentage points.

About the Author

Molly Bloom
More Stories

Keep Reading

Morehouse alum Alex Maganda was recently detained by immigration authorities. (Courtesy of Maszoliin Spencer)

Credit: Maszoliin Spencer

Morehouse College alum detained by ICE in Texas

Alex Maganda, a former Morehouse football player, came to the U.S. from Mexico at 5 years old, his attorney said. A hearing on his case is expected within the next two weeks.

50m ago

More Georgia teachers are getting free or cheap master’s degrees. Here’s how.

With teacher turnover rates on the rise, school systems and universities are partnering in a growing effort to recruit and retain Georgia educators.

Georgia school districts prepare for cellphone ban ahead of state deadline

Metro Atlanta schools will be using lockers, pouches and the honor system to keep students from using their phones.

The Latest

Morehouse alum Alex Maganda was recently detained by immigration authorities. (Courtesy of Maszoliin Spencer)

Credit: Maszoliin Spencer

Morehouse College alum detained by ICE in Texas

50m ago

More Georgia teachers are getting free or cheap master’s degrees. Here’s how.

Atlanta school board votes to extend superintendent’s contract

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Georgia disability rights advocates fear weakening of U.S. accessibility law

Advocates worry the Department of Energy’s move could be the start of a broader effort by other federal agencies to roll back civil rights rules.

From boycott to ballgame: Baseball’s political All-Star Game saga returns to Georgia

MLB pulled the 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia over the state's voting law, Senate Bill 202. Now it’s back — and Republicans say the return proves they were right all along.

OPINION

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour pushes fans outside the norm

Preparations for the show pushed people out of their comfort zones — into new stores, new communities, a new style of dress, and in some cases, to visit new cities.