An Historical Policy Analysis of the Carl D. Perkins Legislation: Examining the History, Creation, Implementation and Reauthorization of the Law
AN HISTORICAL POLICY ANALYSIS OF THE CARL D. PERKINS LEGISLATION: EXAMINING THE HISTORY, CREATION, IMPLEMENTATION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF THE LAW BY AIMEE MICHELLE LAFOLLETTE DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy Studies in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Yoon Pak, Chair Professor James D. Anderson Professor Debra Bragg Associate Professor Christopher Span ABSTRACT This dissertation explores the historical development of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984, with the incorporation of ―special populations‖ as a provision in the law from 1963. From 1917 through 1963, vocational funding primarily supported teacher training, research, program improvement, and expansion of vocational programs, in 1963 acknowledging the social climate of the time Congress included provisions to support services for disadvantaged students. In 1984, Congress established prescriptive provisions attaching funds to serve and address the needs of underserved students described as special populations. Vocational education‘s focus expanded from 1963 -1984 to included provisions to create programs eliminating sexual bias and stereotyping. This dissertation traces the foundations by which Congress was led to focus on access to vocational education programs and prescribe funding to serve handicapped, single parents, displaced homemakers, economically disadvantaged, academically disadvantaged, students with limited English proficiency, and gender equity. ii To my children James and Jacob iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I believe Malcolm Gladwell, author of Tipping Point, said it best when he stated that, ―…the people we surround ourselves with have a profound effect on who we are.‖ Personal success can never be attributed to a single individual.
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