Center for Law and Education
 As its mission, the Center for Law and Education (CLE) strives to make the right of all students to quality education a reality throughout the nation and to help enable communities to address their own public education problems effectively, with an emphasis on assistance to low-income students and communities.

High School Restructuring, Including Vocational Reform

While linked to CLE's other school reform work, such as Title I, we have placed an emphasis on vocational education reform, which, if infused with high academic content, has a great deal to offer high school restructuring. Teaching methods traditionally used in vocational education -- active learning, students' demonstration of skills through a project, and coaching relationships, for example -- are at the heart of what we now know, from educational research, is good academic instruction for students.
  • VOCED Project Overview (PDF) CLE's Vocational Opportunity for Community and Educational Development (VOCED) project works to improve high schools so that all students can achieve high standards through promoting quality, equity, and participatory governance in vocational education and school-to-career programs. The VOCED project also works to ensure that federal vocational education policy is aligned with these principles and collaborates with other related initiatives and programs across the country. 
  • Key Quality and Equity Provisions of Perkins Act (PDF) An explanation of some of the principles of Federal policy in vocational education and high school reform as enacted through the Perkins Act, including major victories in strengthening the bill. 
  • All Aspects of the Industry (PDF) "All Aspects of the Industry" is a key provision of the Perkins Act. It emphasizes giving students a comprehensive perspective and a wide range of skills across an industry.  It includes skills in planning, management, finance, technical and production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor issues, community issues, and health, safety and environmental issues. This document discusses the legislative requirements for implementing this provision of the Perkins Act.   
  • Integration of Academic And Vocational Education (PDF) CLE's Perkins Act Fact Sheet lays out key features of integration for academic and vocational education.  Key features include: encompassing ALL academic areas, including both basic and advanced skills in each academic area, and teaching academic knowledge skills in a vocational context, not just a vocational class.
  • Issue Brief: Students with Disabilities, School-to-Career Transition and the School-to-Work Opportunities Act (PDF) CLE's comprehensive brief designed to provide information to assist in making this aspect of school reform effective for students with disabilities.
Center for Law and Education