View in EDS

Course Taking, Test Preparation, and Career Academy Programs: Findings from a Field Study.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Course Taking, Test Preparation, and Career Academy Programs: Findings from a Field Study.
Language: English
Authors: Smith, Thomas J., Manpower Demonstration Research Corp., New York, NY.
Availability: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, 16 East 34 Street, New York, NY 10016 ($8). Tel: 212-532-3200. For full text: http://www.mdrc.aa.psiweb.com/Reports2002/CA_CourseTaking/CA_CourseTaking01_02.pdf.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 33
Publication Date: 2002
Sponsoring Agency: Ford Foundation, New York, NY.
Ambrose Monell Foundation, New York, NY.
George Gund Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., St. Louis, MO.
Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, CT.
DeWitt Wallace/Reader's Digest Fund, Pleasantville, NY.
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, MO.
Alcoa Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA.
Grable Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA.
New York Times Co., NY.
Open Society Inst., New York, NY.
Intended Audience: Practitioners
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Career Academies, Career Education, Course Content, Field Interviews, Field Studies, Graduation Requirements, High Schools, Integrated Curriculum, Scores, Standardized Tests, Student Attitudes, Test Coaching, Test Validity, Vocational Education
Geographic Terms: U.S.; New York
Abstract: A study examined whether career academy programs, with their tailored curricula, dilute content of required curricula, and whether academy students who follow this alternative course of study are less prepared to score well on standardized tests. Data were gathered through site visits to seven schools, review of reports and documents, and interviews with principals, counselors, academy coordinators, teachers, and students. Three key characteristics defined the academy model: small learning community; college preparatory curriculum with a distinct career theme; and partnerships with employers, communities, and higher education. Findings indicated academy curricula did not hinder students from completing courses required for graduation; any effects of test taking on academy programs (or vice versa) were overshadowed by the generally negative opinion and by the disruptions to school operations those testing requirements produced; and teachers and students found these tests burdensome, students sometimes resisted taking them, and skepticism about their value and their validity was broadly expressed. Steps suggested for academy programs were to give increased attention to building and maintaining a coherent and stable educational experience for students in each academy; to explore more ways to demonstrate their students' unique attainments; and to find ways to ensure their students succeed in the standardized testing environment. (YLB)
Notes: Additional funding provided by the Heinz Family Foundation.
Journal Code: RIEDEC2002
Entry Date: 2002
Accession Number: ED465033
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED465033
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED465033
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Course Taking, Test Preparation, and Career Academy Programs: Findings from a Field Study.
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smith%2C+Thomas+J%2E%22">Smith, Thomas J.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Manpower+Demonstration+Research+Corp%2E%2C+New+York%2C+NY%2E%22">Manpower Demonstration Research Corp., New York, NY.</searchLink>
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, 16 East 34 Street, New York, NY 10016 ($8). Tel: 212-532-3200. For full text: http://www.mdrc.aa.psiweb.com/Reports2002/CA_CourseTaking/CA_CourseTaking01_02.pdf.
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 33
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2002
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Ford Foundation, New York, NY.<br />Ambrose Monell Foundation, New York, NY.<br />George Gund Foundation, Cleveland, OH.<br />Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., St. Louis, MO.<br />Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, CT.<br />DeWitt Wallace/Reader's Digest Fund, Pleasantville, NY.<br />Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, MO.<br />Alcoa Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA.<br />Grable Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA.<br />New York Times Co., NY.<br />Open Society Inst., New York, NY.
– Name: Audience
  Label: Intended Audience
  Group: Audnce
  Data: Practitioners
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Academies%22">Career Academies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Education%22">Career Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Course+Content%22">Course Content</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Field+Interviews%22">Field Interviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Field+Studies%22">Field Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduation+Requirements%22">Graduation Requirements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Integrated+Curriculum%22">Integrated Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scores%22">Scores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Standardized+Tests%22">Standardized Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Coaching%22">Test Coaching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+Education%22">Vocational Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22U%2ES%2E%3B+New+York%22">U.S.; New York</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A study examined whether career academy programs, with their tailored curricula, dilute content of required curricula, and whether academy students who follow this alternative course of study are less prepared to score well on standardized tests. Data were gathered through site visits to seven schools, review of reports and documents, and interviews with principals, counselors, academy coordinators, teachers, and students. Three key characteristics defined the academy model: small learning community; college preparatory curriculum with a distinct career theme; and partnerships with employers, communities, and higher education. Findings indicated academy curricula did not hinder students from completing courses required for graduation; any effects of test taking on academy programs (or vice versa) were overshadowed by the generally negative opinion and by the disruptions to school operations those testing requirements produced; and teachers and students found these tests burdensome, students sometimes resisted taking them, and skepticism about their value and their validity was broadly expressed. Steps suggested for academy programs were to give increased attention to building and maintaining a coherent and stable educational experience for students in each academy; to explore more ways to demonstrate their students' unique attainments; and to find ways to ensure their students succeed in the standardized testing environment. (YLB)
– Name: Note
  Label: Notes
  Group: Note
  Data: Additional funding provided by the Heinz Family Foundation.
– Name: CodeSource
  Label: Journal Code
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JC" term="%22RIEDEC2002%22">RIEDEC2002</searchLink>
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2002
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED465033
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED465033
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 33
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Career Academies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Course Content
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Field Interviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Field Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduation Requirements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Integrated Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scores
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Standardized Tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Coaching
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: U.S.; New York
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Course Taking, Test Preparation, and Career Academy Programs: Findings from a Field Study.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Manpower Demonstration Research Corp., New York, NY.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Smith, Thomas J.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2002
ResultId 1