New developments in vocational education and career options are underway in a few U.S. states. Matthew Mann talks about how New Jersey, Arkansas, and West Virginia are making moves this school year to improve tech ed.

1. SCHOOLS’ IN:
H O W V O C A T I O N A L
E D U C A T I O N I S
I M P R O V I N G I N 2 0 1 7
MATTHEW MANN

2. With students heading back to
school, it’s a great time to read the
news as an educator. New
developments in education and
career options are usually rolled out
at the start of the school year, as well
as highlights from what’s working in
the education sphere — and what
isn’t. Below are three states that are
changing the way education is being
structured in West Virginia, New
Jersey and Arkansas.

3. IN WEST VIRGINIA
“ S E E I N G H O P E F O R F L A G G I N G
E C O N O M Y , W E S T V I R G I N I A
R E V A M P S V O C A T I O N A L T R A C K ”
V I A T H E N E W Y O R K T I M E S

4. IntheheartoftheUnitedStates’rustbeltliesWest
Virginia,astatetypicallyknownforitsbarrenmountain
landscape,poverty-strickentownsandtheopioidcrisis.
Asastatewithsuchabadreputation,whatareschools
todowithitschildrenandthefutureoftheireconomy?

5. Enterfourhighschoolteacherswhoareabouttochange
theeducationsphereforstudentsinWestVirginia.Over
thesummer,theseteachersattendedasimulated-
workplacesummertrainingprogramatMarshall
Universitythatwillhelppavethewaytoasuccessful
futureforstudents.What’sasimulated-workplace,you
mayask?

6. Inthisformatofvocationalschooling,studentspunchin
andoutofschool,likeatimeclockyouwouldseeina
workplace.Inaddition,studentsareassigned
professionalrolesinindustriescommonlyseeninWest
Virginia,suchascoal,healthandfracking,andthey’re
givenvacationdaystouseattheirleisure!

7. IN NEW JERSEY
“ L A W M A K E R S C A L L F O R M A J O R
E X P A N S I O N O F N . J . ’ S V O - T E C H
S C H O O L S ” V I A N J . C O M

8. AccordingtosomevocationalschoolsinNewJersey,
demandforenrollmentishighbutunfortunately,they
havetoturnawaystudents.Inanefforttobringtheir
technicalschoolsintothe21stcenturyandbeyond,
schoolsareusingtheircashtomakeimprovementsto
thecurriculum.

9. Althoughthissoundslikeitcouldbeanegativeissue,it’s
probablybetterforthelongrun.Notonlydoesthestate
wanttomakesurestudentsarefullyequippedwiththe
skillstheyneed,buttheywanttotrainmorestudentsto
workinmanufacturingandbio-tech—twofieldsthatare
expectedtogrowinthefuture.

10. IN ARKANSAS
“ A R K . S T U D E N T S G E T E A R L Y
S T A R T O N C A R E E R P L A N N I N G ”
V I A E D W E E K

11. Attheconclusionofthelastschoolyear,8thgrade
studentsatWynneJuniorHighSchoolparticipatedina
“jobshadow”day.Studentswerescatteredallovertown,
shadowingveterinarians,doctors,farmers,police
officersandmore.

12. Arkansasishopingthatgivingkidsthisopportunityearly
willencouragethemtomakebetterandclearerdecisions
abouttheirfuturecareerpath.Notonlydoschools
organizejobshadowdays,butthestatehascollegeand
careercoachesonhandtosomeoftheirmiddleandhigh
schools.Thesecoachesworkwithstudentstocraft
collegeandcareerplansthatwillempowerthemtomake
moreinformeddecisionsabouttheirfuture.

13. Visit
matthewmannlancaster.com