MAJOR MILESTONES OF CAREER & TECHNOLOGY IN OKLAHOMA A Discussion Guide

History of CareerTech -1- Use this Discussion Guide in conjunction with the publication Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma, by Danney Goble. Copies may be purchased at http://store.okcimc.com/teaching-advising-career-information.html.

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Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-4364 All rights reserved.

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The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, or qualified handicap. Acknowledgments: This Discussion Guide resulted from the work of the following individuals:

Margi Stone Cooper (2020) Donna Metcalf (2006) Frank Coulter (2006) Connie Romans (2006) Norman Filtz (2006) Curtis Shumaker (2006) Tom Friedemann (2006) LaMecia Stidham (2006) Marcie Mack (2020) Ron Wilkerson (2006) Edna Ruth Mahaffey (2006) Laura Wilson (2020) Craig Maile (2006, 2020)

The 2020 graphic design was created by the Creative Services staff; Marissa Villones, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Although the compliance with the Vocational Act of 1917 by the state legislature is frequently called the beginning of in Oklahoma, there had been determined efforts before that time to initiate a state-wide program. Indeed, Section 7, Article 13 of the Constitution of the state of Oklahoma demanded that “the legislature shall provide for the teaching of the elements of Agriculture, Horticulture, Stock Feeding and Domestic Science in the Common Schools of the State.” In compliance with this provision the legislature provided that after July 1,1909, all teachers wishing to receive certificates in the state should pass an examination qualifying them to instruct “the elements of Agriculture and allied branches mentioned” in the Constitution. Also, the various normal schools and other institutions of higher learning in the state were urged to offer training in the needed areas. —Carl Tyson, The History of Vocational and Technical Education in Oklahoma, State Department of Vocational and Technical Education, circa 1975 Timeline 1915 1920

1913—Henry Ford 1917—The United 1920—The 19th amendment 1923—Talking movies The Big creates the assembly States officially enters grants women the right invented line; Congress creates the First World War to vote; first commercial Picture U.S. Department of (1914-1918) radio broadcast airs; 1925—First home Labor begin conversion to 5-day mechanical refrigerator 1919—Prohibition workweek; Census shows sold (Frigidaire) 1914—Panama Canal begins in the U.S. after U.S. reaches 100 million opens; Smith-Lever Congress ratifies the population and first urban Act creates the 18th amendment to the majority (51%) Cooperative Extension Constitution Service

1917-1930s Everything changed when President Wilson signed that law, on February 23, 1917… Everywhere, not just in Oklahoma, the entire ecology of American vocational training changed, not slowly but immediately, not subtly but entirely. Only the fit survived— more accurately, the survivors were those that managed to fit themselves to the new environment. Oklahoma took the money. Every other state did, too, but not as swiftly and not as eagerly. --From Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1917 provided for the preparation of form of schooling except PASSAGE OF THE SMITH- teachers of vocational subjects, , the new HUGHES ACT appropriated money, and board was also designated Having earlier received regulated its expenditures. Oklahoma’s official State Board the recommendations of for Vocational Education the Commission on Aid to The earliest federal definition for governance under the Vocational Education (chaired from the Smith-Hughes Act Smith-Hughes Act. Vocational by Charles A. Prosser), of 1917 defined vocational education was also assigned to Congress passed, and President education as the “preparation its own division within the new Woodrow Wilson signed, the for employment in positions department. Smith-Hughes Act. Wilson requiring less than a said that vocational and baccalaureate degree.” 1929 industrial education was of OKLAHOMA OFFERING ONE vital importance to the whole 1928 OF THE NATION’S FIRST country “for the critical years of FORMATION OF FFA PROGRAMS IN DISTRIBUTIVE economic development ahead Representatives of several EDUCATION of us.” states’ student organizations Tulsa Public Schools offered met together at the American one of the nation’s first Within weeks of passage of Royal Livestock Show in Kansas programs in what became the Smith-Hughes Act, the City, where they launched the known as distributive education. Oklahoma legislature officially Future Farmers of America— Called Retail Selling, Tulsa’s agreed to accept its terms and FFA. Oklahoma was accepted as program placed high school promised to “meet all conditions an early member. students with local retailers necessary” to receive federal and complemented their work funding for its participation 1929 experience with classroom in the program. A federally CREATION OF THE DIVISION studies. approved plan was required by OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION law, and Oklahoma’s plan was WITHIN THE STATE 1929, 1935 formally accepted in August. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PASSAGE OF FEDERAL The purpose of vocational One section of a state statute LEGISLATION INCREASING education as defined in the enacted in 1929 dissolved the FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR Smith-Hughes Act centered old vocational education board VOCATIONAL EDUCATION on promoting vocational and assigned its functions to a The George-Reed Act of 1929 education in general and new agency—the State Board extended and amended the agriculture and the trades and of Education. In addition to Smith-Hughes Act of 1917. industries specifically. It also its duties overseeing every In addition to increasing the

History of CareerTech -4- Timeline 1925 1930

1927—Charles A. 1928—Penicillin 1931—Empire State 1934—Cheeseburger Lindbergh makes discovered Building completed created The Big solo flight across the Atlantic; TV invented 1929—Stock market 1932—Air conditioning 1935—Federal Picture crashes invented Social Security Act establishes a 1930—Sliced bread 1933—Phillips Screw nationwide system of available; Great Company is formed social insurance; Depression begins

federal support for all of teachers, and to supplement Both Bennett and Perky had vocational education, the new teachers’ salaries for distributive been born out of state. As Act gave home . president of Southeastern State the status of an independent Teachers College in Durant, division (it had been included One of the primary results of Bennett had given the school in the trades and industries the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma was a national reputation for its division) and assured home the depletion of the ranks of summer teachers’ institutes. economics a fairer share of vocational agriculture teachers. Once he arrived in Stillwater, future federal funding. When the federal government Bennett became a natural ally of created the Civilian Conservation J.B. Perky. They shared similar Of all the branches of vocational Corps and the Soil Conservation interests. In addition, the college education in Oklahoma, home Service a great demand was the vocational system’s economics received the biggest arose for persons schooled in major supplier, while the system boost from the George-Reed Act techniques of modern farming was the major employer of the of 1929 because that act allowed and soil saving. Fortunately college’s graduates. Oklahoma the states to spend larger for the state many of the new A. & M. received every penny percentages of the allotted positions could be filled with the of teacher training monies funds for that area. In spite of vocational agriculture teachers (except a small portion spent the difficulties created by the of Oklahoma, but unfortunately at Langston) and nearly every Depression home economics for vocational agriculture this agriculture teacher was an A. began the new decade with left many positions empty in the & M. graduate. Representatives unprecedented growth. In schools. However, stepped-up of both the college and the 1930 there were less than sixty teacher training and pragmatic vocational system were all home economics programs in arrangements such as allowing across the state, often in the Oklahoma which were aided teachers time off to handle same communities and often by federal matching funds, and government jobs overcame this providing complementary there were less than 10,000 problem. services, usually for the same students, both adults and school —Carl Tyson, The History of people. girls, enrolled in classes. With Vocational and Technical the addition of the funds from Education in Oklahoma, State the legislation, the number Department of Vocational and of schools offering home Technical Education, circa 1975 economics more than doubled in 1931 with more than 150 districts 1931 holding classes. BEGINNING OF THE —Carl Tyson, The History of RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN J.B. Vocational and Technical PERKY & HENRY G. BENNETT Education in Oklahoma, State In 1929, Henry Garland Bennett Department of Vocational and assumed the presidency of Technical Education, circa 1975 Oklahoma A. & M. College in Stillwater. Not long after, in 1931, In 1935, the George-Ellzey Act James Barney Perky became the replaced the George-Reed Act. state supervisor for vocational It brought the total federal agriculture. Because Oklahoma supplement for vocational A. & M. had long dominated the agriculture and home economics state’s vocational training, Perky to $3 million each. The law also visited Stillwater to find and hire made available—for the first A. & M. graduates. time—federal funds to train

History of CareerTech -5- Timeline 1935

1935—Hoover Dam 1937—Golden Gate 1938—Fair Labor 1939—Germany The Big completed; National Bridge completed in Standards Act sets invades Poland, Labor Relations Act San Francisco minimum wage, starting the Second Picture of 1935 (Wagner Act) maximum hours, equal World War in Europe guarantees workers pay and child labor the right to join labor standards unions and bargain collectively

As author Danney Goble writes, 1958, all state vocational offices 1937 “Put Henry Bennett in the A. & relocated to a remodeled ORGANIZATION OF THE M. presidency and one had the 1930s-era building owned by FUTURE HOMEMAKERS OF makings of real political power. Oklahoma State OKLAHOMA Henry Bennett had that power, located at West Sixth Avenue Oklahoma’s home economics and J.B. Perky knew it. The first and Walnut Street in Stillwater, students and their teachers was willing to share it with the the site of the agency’s current organized the Future right kind of man. The second facilities.) Homemakers of Oklahoma in was the right kind of man, and 1937. (They became members he was ready for his share.” of the Future Homemakers of America—FHA—in 1944.) 1933 AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS DIVISIONS RELOCATE TO STILLWATER Since 1917, the vocational system’s departments operated out of the state capitol in Oklahoma City, as did every state agency. In 1933, after Henry G. Bennett was on the job at Oklahoma A. & M. College, J.B. Perky, state supervisor of vocational agriculture, and Kate North, state supervisor of home economics, moved their administrative offices to the A&M campus. (Later, in

Discussion Guide Refer to Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1. How much money 4. What were the out of each state’s Oklahoma and to 11. According to Goble: did the Smith-Hughes original qualifications share of funds for what funding for teacher “America’s decade Act provide to to teach vocational field/area? What was training? What does of the twenties had vocational education agriculture, home the maximum amount Goble mean when he been a decade of nationally each year by economics, and trades of those funds that says, “Separate but change so swift and 1926? and industries? How each state could spend equal was a lie”? so profound that it 2. Why is the Smith- did those qualifications on home economics? 9. How did teacher amounted to a national Hughes Act of 1917 reflect the times? 7. How did the Smith- salaries contribute transformation. No important to career 5. What kind of Hughes appropriations to the appeal of state offered a better and technology financial commitment to train vocational vocational schooling? example than did education? did the Smith-Hughes teachers affect 10. To what new Oklahoma.” What kinds 3. How was Act require a school vocational teacher agency were the of changes took place Oklahoma’s State district to make to training? functions of the in Oklahoma? Board of Vocational vocational education? 8. How did “separate vocational education Education originally 6. The federal funds for but equal” apply to board assigned in organized? home economics came teacher training in 1929?

History of CareerTech -6- Timeline 1940

1940—The U.S. 1941—Japan attacks 1942—Franklin Roosevelt 1943—The Jefferson Congress enacts Pearl Harbor, United signs Executive Order Memorial is dedicated The Big the first peacetime States enters the 9066, confining some in Washington, DC, on conscription draft; Second World War 110,000 Japanese- the 200th anniversary of Picture Franklin Roosevelt Americans on the west Thomas Jefferson’s birth; becomes the first 1941—Ted Williams coast to relocation Richard James invents person to be elected ends the season with camps for three years; the Slinky to a third term as a batting average over U.S. Marines land on president 0.400, the last player Guadalcanal; U.S. and to accomplish that feat Great Britain invade North Africa

1940s The war changed everything it touched, and it touched everything there was. --From Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

The schools were mobilized for the war effort not only to provide the necessary orientation for the future members of the Armed Forces but also to furnish vocational training to meet the growing demand for manpower in industry and agriculture. Under the direction of the U. S. Office of Education a program to meet the emergency defense training needs had been launched in June, 1940. The program was extended and intensified after Pearl Harbor, when it was adapted to meet war production training needs. Vocational schools were called upon to train not only high school students but also workers who were dislocated from nondefense industries and needed retraining to fit them for service in war-production industries. Classes were held at all hours of the day for all types of men and women. So far as high school students were concerned, the demand for admission to courses in vocational training was greater than the schools could accommodate. There was, in fact, a pronounced shift of interest from academic studies to vocational training. --From I.L. Kandel, The Impact of the War Upon American Education, 1948

1940 J.B. PERKY ASKED TO HELP PLAN TRAINING OF NATION’S DEFENSE WORKERS After the sudden and shocking fall of France to Nazi armies, U.S. Commissioner of Education John Studebaker assembled a small panel consisting of the nation’s most esteemed vocational educators and asked that they plan to train 1.25 million defense workers in the next 12 months. J.B. Perky was one of the few summoned, and the recommendations that he and the rest offer became federal policy in precisely 23 days, when the Vocational Training for War Workers Program was created and assigned to each state’s Division of Trades and Industries. J.B. Perky thereupon became both Oklahoma’s director for war production training and state

History of CareerTech -7- Timeline 1945

1944—Allies launch 1946—The Basketball 1946—Dr. Benjamin Spock 1946—U.S. has fewer The Big Normandy invasion on Association of America, writes a best-selling book than 17,000 television June 6; ballpoint pens go known as the National called Baby and Child sets Picture on sale; Congress passes Basketball Association Care, a how-to book for the “G.I. Bill of Rights” (NBA) since 1949 after parents; soap operas air 1947—Microwave its merger with the rival on television for the first oven invented; Jackie 1945—U.S. uses atomic National Basketball League, time; movies include “The Robinson breaks bombs on Hiroshima and is founded; the Philippines Best Years of Our Lives,” baseball’s color barrier Nagasaki, Japan; Second receives its independence “The Yearling,” and “It’s a by playing in the major World War ends from the Wonderful Life” leagues

supervisor of food production reorganize the entire system. politician—someone, say, like training. To reorganize the system was J.B. Perky, maybe with Henry to repeal one law and enact Bennett’s help. 1941 another. To exchange statutes CREATION OF THE POSITION was to have the acceptance of A new law in April 1941 OF STATE DIRECTOR OF the system’s existing leader (the reorganized the state VOCATIONAL EDUCATION elected superintendent of public department of education, but AND APPOINTMENT OF J.B. instruction), the agreement of continued to assign the State PERKY AS STATE DIRECTOR its governing body (the State Board of Education the dual Under the organization of Board of Education appointed identity of being the State Oklahoma’s vocational system by the governor), the support of Board for Vocational Education since 1929, the system had the leadership and the votes of a as well. The vocational board no director as such. The majority in both the state House was required by law to fill two superintendent of public and Senate, and the signature new positions: an executive instruction assumed those of Gov. Leon Phillips. To get all officer for itself and a director additional duties. To create a of that was to have the skills for vocational education. J.B. separate directorship was to and connections of a master Perky became simultaneously

Discussion Guide Refer to Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma. 1. A decade after mean? high schools? and why were they 18. How did the War the Smith-Hughes 4. How did the George- 8. What Oklahoma different? Production Workers Act, what kinds Deen Act significantly governor saved home 15. How did Program—administered of programs—day change the level and economics from Washington make through the trades and courses, evening the form of federal extinction by using Oklahoma “a special industries division— courses, and part- spending for vocational money from his special case,” according to give vocational time classes—came to education? contingency fund in Goble, in 1941? education “its finest characterize trade and 5. New to the George- 1943? 16. How long did it take hour”? industrial education? Deen law was money 9. Why did, as Goble the recommendations 19. According to Goble, Home economics? to supplement says, “nothing so in the June 1940 report the vision of vocational Vocational agriculture? teachers’ salaries became E.B. Nelms’ life prepared by J.B. Perky education from the Why? and to train teachers in vocational education and other vocational Second World War to 2. What new for what form of as did his leaving it”? educators to become the 1950s still focused responsibility vocational training? 10. What was the federal policy, after more on “the America was added to the 6. What does Goble “cross-section plan” of they submitted their that had entered the vocational board in mean when he says J.B. Perky in 1931? report? What was war than the America 1927 and became a “The system was 11. According to Goble, unique about the that emerged from it.” fourth department— separate-but-equal; why were Henry amount of money In what ways was this joining agriculture, the dollars were just Bennett and J.B. Perky involved? demonstrated? home economics, and separate”? What natural allies? 17. How did the 20. What changes took trade and industrial impact did separate- 12. What move of Second World War place in Oklahoma in education? but-equal have on “great political (1939-1945) affect the the 1950s to make that 3. How did agriculture schooling every day in acumen” did J.B. Perky financial support and decade possibly “the and home economics Oklahoma? make in 1932? supply of teachers for hinge upon which the divide the new money 7. What was one 13. What caused T&I to home economics and state’s entire history provided by the early effect of the cut back its oil-related vocational agriculture turned”? George-Reed Act in Great Depression on programs in the 1930s? in Oklahoma, after 1929? According to vocational agriculture 14. How were the FFA America entered the Goble, what did it training in Oklahoma’s and FHO similar? How war in 1941?

History of CareerTech -8- Timeline 1945

1947—Eero Saarinen designs 1948—Congress passes 1948—Executive Order 9981, signed the Gateway Arch (completed Economic Cooperation by Harry Truman, ends segregation in The Big in 1965 in St. Louis), a lasting Act approving funding to the U.S. military; Velcro ® invented by icon of modernism; Earl rebuild Western Europe George de Mestral; the Soviet Union Picture Silas Tupper patented the (the Marshall Plan); blockades Berlin, Germany, trying to Tupperware seal; Chuck Yeager President Harry S. Truman force the Allies out of West Berlin breaks the sound barrier in an defeats governor X-1 rocket-powered research Thomas Dewey 1949—Cake mix is invented plane

home economics and trade and industries $8 million each, and distributive education $2.5 million. This revised federal formula helped assure agriculture training its primacy in Oklahoma. 1947 FORMATION OF DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION CLUBS OF AMERICA Distributive Education Clubs of America—DECA—is formed at a convention of state organizations held in Memphis, Tennessee. Oklahoma becomes a charter member. (In 1943, the Association of Oklahoma Distributors Clubs was officially organized and recognized as the student organization associated with distributive education.) executive officer of the state vocational board and state director of vocational education—and also remained state supervisor of vocational agriculture. 1946 PASSAGE OF THE GEORGE BARDEN ACT INCREASING FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION The George-Barden Act of 1946 more than doubled the annual federal appropriations for all forms of vocational education and changed the formula for distributing the funds. Congress had previously divided $12 million annually among agriculture, home economics, and trade and industries equally. From the larger appropriations approved by the new act, vocational agriculture would receive $10 million per year,

History of CareerTech -9- Timeline 1950

1950—First credit 1951—The 22nd Amendment 1951—Color TV & first 1954—Segregation ruled The Big card introduced; first to the Constitution commercial computer illegal in Brown v. Board organ transplant; establishes term limits introduced of Education of Topeka; Picture Korean conflict begins; for presidents; I Love Swanson makes first Wisconsin Sen. Joseph Lucy premieres on CBS; 1952—Polio vaccine frozen TV dinner R. McCarthy claims The Catcher in the Rye is created; car seat belts possession of list of published introduced 1955—AFL and CIO merge; known communists McDonald’s Corporation in the U.S. State 1953—DNA discovered; founded; Rosa Parks Department armistice signed in Korean refuses to move to conflict the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama

1950-1960s The Second World War had put change in motion, and the momentum carried over into the fifties and beyond. Few then could have sensed it—only the perspective of time made it evident—but the 1950s may have been the hinge upon which the state’s entire history turned.

In what is commonly referred to as the Brown decision, the United States Supreme Court unanimously holds that legally imposed segregation of the public schools violates Constitutional guarantees under the Fourteenth Amendment. Although other states resist, all stubbornly, Oklahoma begins dismantling its separate-but-equal school system immediately. The beginning comes quickly for Oklahomans, but the end will come slowly for everyone. --From Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1954 industries, practical nursing of 1961. The new act provided CHARTERING OF FUTURE education only later broke off for advanced technical training BUSINESS LEADERS OF to become an independent to the unemployed and those AMERICA division. considered the victims of Future Business Leaders of automation. America—FBLA—was chartered When the Soviet Union in Oklahoma as a club for launched the Sputnik satellite, Two months after receiving college-age students. it put America on notice that the report of the Panel of the United States had fallen Consultants on Vocational 1956-1963 behind. In response, Congress Education, President Kennedy EXPANSION OF THE MISSION passed the National Defense sent Congress what became OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION Education Act of 1958. This act the National Education THROUGH FEDERAL further broadened the scope of Improvement Act of 1963. LEGISLATION vocational education’s mission. Modifying formulas used in With the so-called Health Title VIII of the act rewrote earlier laws, the 1963 act stayed Amendment to the continuing previous statutes as far back with the practice of assigning George-Barden Act, Congress as the Smith-Hughes Act of set percentages of each state’s in 1956 added the preparation 1917. One change involved share of federal funds to its of practical nurses to the providing another $60 million agriculture, home economics, mission of state vocational into states’ vocational training and similar programs. However, education programs. To over the next four years, almost the law for the first time encourage the preparation of double what had been available. ignored those traditional practical nurses, Washington More importantly, the new law divisions when it came to made $5 million available to required that the extra funds calculating the sum of money the states for each of the next were to be used exclusively for that each state received— four years. The money was the training of “highly skilled the money was divided up to pay 75 percent of the cost technicians in recognized according to the state’s of preparing these nurses occupations requiring scientific population in the ages most in the first year, half in each knowledge in fields necessary likely to gain from vocational of the next three. Oklahoma for the national defense.” training. In addition, the 1963 jumped in line at once. Within act embodied substantive weeks, the state produced and In 1962, Congress enacted the and philosophical judgments. Washington approved a plan Manpower Development and They shared the resolve that to turn out practical nurses. Training Act, an expansion of vocational education had to Initially assigned to trades and the Area Redevelopment Act transcend serving professions

History of CareerTech -10- Timeline 1955

1954—The Tournament of 1956—Elvis Presley 1956—TV remote 1958—Aluminum Roses Parade becomes appears on The Ed Sullivan control invented; Velcro beverage can The Big the first event nationally Show for the first time. introduced; Federal-Aid introduced; NASA televised in color; NBC airs Highway Act paves way founded Picture The Tonight Show, hosted 1957—The Civil Rights for interstate highway by Steve Allen Act of 1957 becomes the system 1960—Black college first civil rights legislation students stage a sit- 1955—Disneyland opens in enacted by Congress since 1957—Soviet Union in at a segregated Anaheim, California Reconstruction launches Sputnik Woolworth’s lunch satellite and Space Age counter in North 1958—Jack Kilby invents Carolina; lasers the integrated circuit invented

to serving people. The law adults and for area vocational on its director’s personality made commitments not to schools for secondary students. and skills. Independent school different occupations but to Oklahoma was the first state to districts had no need to different groups in different receive the new money. participate and no reason to ways. In addition to traditional appease the state office. As groups—such as high school a result, this position called students needing to learn a for an administrator who was trade and adults wanting to both a seasoned educator and update skills or add new ones— a natural diplomat. It needed vocational education was now a leader who could persuade charged with serving new and motivate people, who groups of people: those who understood and had the respect had completed or discontinued of school superintendents, and their formal education and are whom other people could work preparing to enter the labor with, rather than for. Francis market and those with special Tuttle, then superintendent education handicaps. The new of Muskogee’s public schools, law also brought new money accepted an offer from Oliver dedicated to new things, Hodge, state superintendent including new programs and of public instruction, and J.B. new, independent divisions. Perky, to head the new area Curriculum development, schools division. strategic planning, program evaluation, demonstration and Tulsa opened the first area experimental projects—each school in 1964, acting primarily a recommendation of the 1964 through Tulsa Public Schools. consultants’ panel—became an HIRING OF FRANCIS TUTTLE Over the next three years, obligation under the new federal AS STATE COORDINATOR OF other area schools opened law and funded by federal THE NEW AREA SCHOOLS in Oklahoma City, Ardmore, money. DIVISION Duncan and Enid. Area schools had to be just Finally, the 1963 act required that—they had to rely on any that one-third of each state’s number of districts over an money had to be reserved for entire area—and the division’s postsecondary education for success would depend directly

Discussion Guide Refer to Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1. What was the money? How did it affect the 5. What were some of the pins distributed by significance of the 2. According to Goble, development of adult the changes that took Gov. Dewey Bartlett? National Defense what did Sputnik education and area place in Oklahoma 7. Whom did Francis Education Act of 1958 symbolize? schools in Oklahoma? between 1957 and 1967 Tuttle hire as the first (NDEA) for vocational 3. How did the National 4. How was the task of that had an impact on assistant state director? education? What did Education Improvement the new area schools vocational education? Oklahoma do—and Act of 1963 transform division different from 6. What was OKIE not do—with its NDEA vocational education? that of other divisions? supposed to mean on

History of CareerTech -11- Timeline 1960

1960—Black college students 1962—Cuban missile crisis; 1964—Food Stamp Act established; The Big stage a sit-in at a segregated John Glenn becomes first US Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Woolworth’s lunch counter astronaut to orbit Earth Resolution allowing President to Picture in North Carolina; lasers “take all necessary measures” to invented 1963—President John F. repel armed attack on U.S. forces Kennedy assassinated; Martin in South Vietnam; Title VII of the 1961—Construction of Berlin Luther King, Jr., gives “I Have Civil Rights Act establishes Equal Wall begins a Dream” speech Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce federal statutes prohibiting employment discrimination

1960s-1970s In a stunningly short time, Oklahomans reinvented almost everything about their state’s vocational education—its mission, its organization, its governance, its funding, everything, even its name.

By pooling the resources of separate school districts, the combined vocational districts were able to accomplish more than any single district could conceive or the state by itself could fund. In fact, this innovative intergovernmental mechanism was what ended up giving Oklahoma’s vocational system a financial security unknown but not unenvied by every other state.

In November [1966], Dewey Bartlett is elected governor. Between his election and his inauguration in January 1967, Bartlett commits himself to becoming Oklahoma’s “job-gettingest” governor ever and resolves to make the state’s vocational education system a major force in his crusade for economic expansion. --From Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1965 ORGANIZATION OF 1966 VOCATIONAL INDUSTRIAL APPROVAL OF STATE CLUBS OF AMERICA QUESTION 434 ESTABLISHING The Vocational Industrial VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Clubs of America—VICA— DISTRICTS was chartered for students in In May 1966, Oklahoma voters programs under the Division approved State Question 434, of Trades and Industries. (The which permitted one or more name of the organization was school districts to form a single officially changed to SkillsUSA- vocational district, each to be VICA in 1999.)

governed by its own, elected vocational board and all expected to build and maintain area vocational-technical schools. Property rolls from all of the districts were also to be combined, thereby giving each vocational school district a secure and sizable tax base. The vocational districts were allowed

History of CareerTech -12- Timeline 1965 1970

1965—New Farmers of America 1968—Martin Luther King, Jr., and 1970—The first Earth Day is merges with Future Farmers of Robert Kennedy assassinated; observed; The Beatles break up The Big America; Medicare established Warsaw Pact troops invade under Social Security; racial Czechoslovakia 1971—A ban on radio and television Picture violence in Selma, Alabama cigarette advertisements goes into 1969—Neil Armstrong becomes effect in the United States; All in 1966—Child Nutrition Act launches first human to walk on the moon; the Family premieres on CBS; the the school breakfast program ARPANET, the precursor to the 26th Amendment is ratified, giving internet, is created; Woodstock music 18-year-olds the right to vote 1967—First Super Bowl; first heart festival; Concorde supersonic aircraft transplant makes first test flight

to levy up to five mills for capital Enid. While it is recognized that There had to be a management construction and 10 more for Tulsa was the first entity to form team, and that team had to use operating expenses, subject to an area school in 1964, acting all of the talents and energy the approval of voters within primarily through the Tulsa available in a large, diverse, and each district. Public Schools, all five of these expert staff. schools stuck their necks out to The idea of vocational education test the new concept of the area 1968 programs designed to serve vo-tech school.) FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE an area of a State rather than MISSION OF VOCATIONAL a single community found 1967 EDUCATION THROUGH expression…in the National APPOINTMENT OF FRANCIS FEDERAL LEGISLATION Defense Education Act [of 1958]. TUTTLE AS STATE DIRECTOR The Vocational Education The purpose then was to train OF VOCATIONAL AND Amendments of 1968 highly skilled technicians for TECHNICAL EDUCATION fundamentally reordered fields necessary for the national In 1967, Francis Tuttle replaced the purposes and nature of defense; but the Vocational J.B. Perky as state director vocational education in America. Education Act of 1963 specifies and ushered in a new style The law reversed the entire area schools with a larger of management as well. His thrust of vocational education purpose—to provide vocational first addition to an evolving away from vocations and toward education in the broad sense in management team was Arch education. From that moment, which the act defines it. What Alexander, hired first as an its defining mission has been the new act does is to provide assistant state director before to educate people as people funds for the construction of becoming deputy state director rather than for any particular area schools—something that in 1972. Like those whom trade or job. (In fact, the mission NDEA did not do. Perky had nurtured, Francis as stated in the 2005 Strategic —From The Vocational Tuttle’s proteges shared a Plan is “We prepare Oklahomans Education Act of 1963 common background, though a to succeed in the workplace, in (Report Number OE-80034), different one. Several of them education, and in life.”) U.S. Department of Health, held doctorates in education. Education, and Welfare, 1965 Leadership had been defined One outcome of the 1968 law by J.B. Perky. In contrast to that was the creation of five new 1967 often tough and hard-nosed divisions. The common purpose FIRST APPROVAL BY VOTERS style, Francis Tuttle established of these new divisions was OF AN AREA VOCATIONAL- a participatory, team approach. to assume responsibility for TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT His first act upon taking over— the administrative needs of District voters approved Tri- and five years before any federal the entire system, rather than County Tech in Bartlesville as law required it—was to set a serve any single occupation the state’s first area vocational- single salary scale and apply it or occupational grouping. The technical school. (Before the to every position across every new divisions had oversight for passage of SQ 434 in 1966, division. From that day on, business and finance; manpower five area vocational-technical women and men who have done training; research, planning, and schools were formed that were the same work have earned the evaluation; educational services; a part of their public school same pay. and special services. districts: Tulsa Tech, Foster Estes—which would eventually Tuttle’s revolutionary approach 1968 become Metro Tech—Red River was also a necessary one. FORMATION OF OKLAHOMA in Duncan, Southern Oklahoma Too much had become too CIMC in Ardmore and O.T. Autry in complicated for any one person. Oklahoma established the

History of CareerTech -13- Timeline 1970

1970—Kent State University 1972—M*A*S*H premieres; PONG, 1972—Watergate scandal begins; The Big student protests; Occupational the first video game to have pocket calculator introduced; Safety and Health Act places commercial success, is released Congress passes Equal Rights Picture duties on employers and Amendment employees to assure safe 1973—Skylab is launched; working conditions; Hamburger Secretariat wins the Triple Crown 1973—Federal Hazardous Helper introduced in horse racing; Billy Jean King Substances Act bans lead beats Bobby Riggs in the “Battle in paint; Wounded Knee 1971—VCR introduced; CAT of the Sexes” tennis match; first reservation occupied by Native scan invented; E-mail invented; MRI image published Americans pocket calculator invented

Curriculum and Instructional business and a major influence 1968 Materials Center to design, where occupational training ORIGIN OF THE OKLAHOMA develop and disseminate was presented anywhere by VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL instructional materials for anybody. SCHOOL MODEL vocational programs statewide. South Carolina’s system of The hallmark of CIMC curriculum --Danney Goble, Learning vocational education was was its competency-based to Earn: A History of Career considered to be the model structure and its color- and Technology Education in of a great one. South Carolina coded components. (The Oklahoma showed what a state could do CIMC would operate for with vocational schooling and 50 years as an example of 1968 how a state should do it. Both Oklahoma’s investment in TRANSFER OF GOVERNANCE Georgia and North Carolina quality instructional materials OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION also had solid reputations for to support its vocational— FROM THE STATE BOARD OF their state programs, but South later career and technology— EDUCATION TO A NEW STATE Carolina stood out from the education system.) BOARD OF VOCATIONAL rest. Vocational education in & TECHNICAL EDUCATION South Carolina meant industrial Not even ten years after... AND ESTABLISHMENT development for South Carolina. the CIMC opened its doors, OF AN INDEPENDENT That was its principal purpose. Oklahoma already had STATE DEPARTMENT OF established its primacy as a VOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL In 1968, Francis Tuttle sent Arch national resource for curriculum EDUCATION Alexander to scout these states, and instructional materials. As of July 1, 1968, Oklahoma especially South Carolina. In the That meant a lot — and a made the oversight of beginning, Alexander saw and lot more than just prestige. vocational education the single Oklahoma copied. The most It made Oklahoma a major purpose of a newly defined, obvious borrowing involved player in a billion-dollar-a-year distinct official board—the what both states called special State Board of Vocational and schools, and they were the Technical Education. Because first to assign those schools to its members included the their own division at the state elected superintendent of level. They offered customized public instruction (assigned by instruction in ad hoc facilities, statute to chair it) along with instant schools built to do one the six members of the state thing, one time. That was to education board, the new board provide the start-up training was assured both continuity to guarantee new employers with the past and cooperation the workforce they needed to in the future. Because those be productive from day one. were joined by six members The idea originated in South appointed by the governor plus Carolina; Oklahoma was the first the state director in a non- state to do the same. voting capacity, the primary role of the new board was clear: Besides improving upon to guide a new, independent the South Carolina model, agency—created by the same Oklahoma soon charted new statute—the State Department paths for other states to follow. of Vocational and Technical Oklahoma offered the nation’s Education. first quick-start occupational

History of CareerTech -14- Timeline 1975

1974—Hank Aaron breaks 1974—President Richard M. 1976—Television miniseries Babe Ruth’s home run record; Nixon resigns; self-adhesive Roots airs The Big Beverly Johnson becomes stamps issued the first black model on the 1977—Star Wars in theatres; Picture cover of Vogue or any other 1975—Microsoft founded; President Anwar Sadat of Egypt major fashion magazine; girls last U.S. troops leave South becomes first Arab leader to allowed to play Little League Vietnam visit Israel baseball; UPC Bar Code is introduced

America Vocational Curriculum Consortium, a multi-state project to coordinate, develop, and distribute curriculum materials. Ann Benson, who joined the state staff as a curriculum specialist in 1973, directed the project during its first 10 years. (MAVCC remained a prominent source of curriculum for career and technology education nationwide for 40 years.)

1976 ENACTMENT OF THE DISPLACED HOMEMAKER ACT BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE LEGISLATURE President Gerald R. Ford signed into law the Vocational Education Amendments of 1976. This law prohibited gender training programs for new and Oklahoma. Since then, the Skills discrimination in vocational expanding businesses; was the Centers Division has grown to education’s programming. first state to maintain a division encompass multiple programs in That same year, Oklahoma dedicated to short-term adult public and private correctional enacted the Displaced education; was first to establish facilities statewide, including Homemaker Act requiring a division promoting business juvenile facilities. It has evolved the State Board of Vocational productivity; and was first to into a virtual statewide school and Technical Education dedicate an entire division to system within prison walls. to develop job training, developing human resources. counseling, money management In addition, while South 1974 and placement programs Carolina’s area schools were FORMATION OF HEALTH for displaced homemakers purely postsecondary, those OCCUPATIONS STUDENT through multipurpose in Oklahoma were intended ORGANIZATION centers established within for both adults and secondary The Oklahoma Health the area vocational-technical students. Occupations Student schools. In 1978, the State Organization was formed Department of Vocational and 1971 (Health Occupations Students Technical Education set up a FIRST DELIVERY OF of America—HOSA—was counseling, training, and job VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO officially organized in 1976, with placement service for displaced INMATES AT A SKILLS CENTER Oklahoma as a charter state.) homemakers with seed money Under the jurisdiction of from the governor’s office. the State Department of 1975 Moore-Norman AVTS had Corrections, the first vocational MAVCC ORGANIZED the first pilot program. This training classes were provided Encouraged by the U.S. Office pilot was so innovative and to inmates at the Ouachita of Education, Oklahoma took so successful that the U.S. facility, near Hodgen in eastern the lead in organizing the Mid- Department of Labor adopted it

History of CareerTech -15- Timeline 1975

1977—The Trans-Alaskan 1978—“Garfield” comic 1979—Sony introduces 1979—Margaret Thatcher The Big Pipeline opens; Apple II strip debuts; Texas Walkman; hostage crisis becomes the first computer introduced; Instruments, Inc., in Iran; nuclear accident woman prime minister Picture Atari launches video introduces Speak & Spell, at Three Mile Island of Britain; Soviet troops computer system game a talking learning aid for invade Afghanistan; U.S. console; Radio Shack children aged 7 and up recognizes China; Visicalc (Tandy) introduces the and the first electronic is developed, automating TRS-80 duplication of the human the recalculation of vocal tract on a single spreadsheets 1978—First test-tube baby integrated circuit born

as a model for other states.

1976 VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RECOGNIZED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO STATEWIDE INVESTMENT AND JOBS As a measure of vocational education’s contributions to bringing new investments and jobs to Oklahoma, its various programs—the Training for Industry projects in particular— were credited with being major factors in the year’s increase of $58,471,000 in capital investments in Oklahoma and the addition of 2,672 new jobs for its people.

1978 AIASA The American Industrial Arts Student Association was established with Oklahoma as one of the first state associations. (AIASA would become TSA in 1988.)

Discussion Guide Refer to Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1. What was the law for vocational the “common lesson” education programs in Carolina’s model? significance of education”? What five that resulted? Oklahoma? 8. How did the Oklahoma voters’ new divisions were 4. What happened on 6. As Goble describes emergence of the approval of State created as a result? July 1, 1968? Why was it, what contributed two-year colleges Question 434 in May 3. What was the it important? to an “evolutionary help to remake 1966? purpose of the trip to 5. According to Francis eruption” in higher education and 2. Why were the South Carolina? What Tuttle, what was the Oklahoma’s vocational vocational education in Vocational Education made South Carolina’s most significant factor system? Oklahoma? Amendments of 1968 vocational system in the development 7. How did Oklahoma “a landmark in federal stand out? What was of vocational improve upon South

History of CareerTech -16- Timeline 1980 1985

1980—Ted Turner establishes CNN; 1982—Computer named 1983—U.S. forces land on Grenada; Mount St. Helens volcano erupts “Machine of the Year” by Chrysler introduces the minivan The Big TIME magazine; Lotus 1981—IBM introduces the personal introduces user-friendly 1984—Macintosh computer with mouse Picture computer; HIV/AIDS discovered; spreadsheet software; Job is launched Columbia space shuttle becomes first Training Partnership Act is reusable manned spacecraft; MTV enacted; compact discs hits 1985—Coca Cola launches New Coke; debuts consumer market; Falkland first approval to sell a genetically War between Britain and altered organism Argentina

1980s-1990s It was not much longer before the state’s top political and economic leaders were crediting the refashioned vocational system, especially its TIP projects, for doing more to bring jobs to Oklahoma than anything the state had done since there had been a state, since 1907.

Jim Perky, Francis Tuttle, Roy Peters, Ann Benson—of course, she was the first woman to hold the director’s job, but by 1999 that fact may have been more incidental than anything else. At least, it may have been incidental with the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education, for that was about the only species of education in Oklahoma in which gender tended to be insignificant, if not irrelevant. --From Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

1981 agencies to develop and deliver great deal of emphasis on the EXPANSION OF FHA TO FHA/ examinations required for integration of vocational and HERO certifications and licensures. The academic instruction. Congress The Oklahoma chapters of the agency testing staff developed believed that for vocational Future Homemakers of America a series of duty-task lists that education to remain relevant expanded to include HERO— became a hallmark of their work and to be able to prepare Home Economics Related in the years before national students for the increasingly Occupations—chapters. standards and the internet. technological and complex jobs of the future, it would have 1985 1984-1998 to teach broader skills and PETERS NAMED STATE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION incorporate basic academic DIRECTOR ENHANCING VOCATIONAL concepts into its curriculum. Francis Tuttle retired after PROGRAMS AND EXPANDING The act further strengthened 18 years as state director. STUDENT POPULATIONS the provisions related to the During his tenure, vocational In 1984, the Carl D. Perkins provision of educational services enrollments reached over Vocational Education Act to disadvantaged, disabled 200,000 and the system grew authorized funding over a and other special population into a network of 25 districts five-year period to improve students. Both Tech Prep and with 41 sites statewide. Roy vocational programs and serve the integration of academic Peters was named state director. special populations of students. and vocational instruction were The Carl D. Perkins Vocational intended to position the Perkins and Applied Technology act as a tool for educational 1985 Education Act of 1990 reform by linking vocational STATE AGENCY LAUNCHES authorized up to $1.6 billion a education more closely with TESTING CENTER year through 1995 for vocational academics and with instruction The state CareerTech agency education, including Tech at the postsecondary level. inaugurated a Testing Division— Prep. This increased federal The definition of “vocational later named the CareerTech funding reflected the continued education” meant “organized Testing Center. The mission of commitment of Congress to and educational programs offering the CTTC is to provide standards support of vocational education a sequence of courses which and assessments for vocational and reflected the education are directly related to the education programs. The policies and reform efforts preparation of individuals in CTTC also partners with state of the time. The act placed a paid or unpaid employment

History of CareerTech -17- Timeline 1985 1990

1986—”The Phantom of the Opera” 1989—Berlin Wall comes down; 80 1991—The Soviet Union The Big premieres in London nations agree to stop producing is dissolved; Gulf War; ozone-damaging CFC’s; Tiananmen President de Klerk Picture 1987—New York Stock Exchange Square in Peking (Beijing) announces abolition of experiences drop of over 500 points apartheid laws in South on “Black Monday”; Gorbachev 1990—Americans with Disabilities Act Africa launches “glasnost” and “perestroika” establishes clear and comprehensive campaign prohibition of discrimination on basis of disability; Hubble telescope 1988—First transatlantic fiber-optic launched; World Wide Web invented cable installed

education as a separate program administered through the educational system. The reform initiatives of Tech Prep and the integration of academic and vocational instruction were continued, and the requirements of the act were streamlined and simplified.

1986 DEVELOPMENT OF BID ASSISTANCE NETWORK The state agency oversaw the development of 21 bid assistance centers to help Oklahoma businesses compete for federal government contracts. The centers were located at area vocational-technical school sites statewide.

1988 in current or emerging supervised by the Oklahoma STATE AGENCY ORGANIZES occupations requiring other than Board of Vocational and TO CONNECT BUSINESSES a baccalaureate or advanced Technical Education. In 1995, TO FEDERAL RESEARCH AND degree. Such programs shall Oklahoma was one of the first TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES include: competency-based states to be awarded federal The state agency added a Small learning which contributes startup funds—$1.7 million—for Business Innovation Research to the individual’s academic its school-to-work system. In program to help Oklahoma’s knowledge; higher-order 1998, the Oklahoma Legislature technology-oriented firms reasoning, and problem-solving established competitive grant compete for federal research skills, and the occupational- dropout recovery programs and development funds. A new specific skills necessary for within technology center Technology Transfer Network economic independence as a districts and established pilot connected state companies productive and contributing programs at technology centers directly to federal laboratories member of society.” for the expansion of rural and assured them access to businesses. Also in 1998, the new resources available from several In 1993, the Oklahoma State Perkins Act offered vocational federal agencies. Legislature established the education greater flexibility in Oklahoma Youth Apprenticeship how federal funds were spent, Program administered and while maintaining vocational

Discussion Guide Refer to Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

According to author Danney Goble, “If Oklahoma’s TIP projects outdid other states in attracting new employers, even they were no match for what Oklahoma did on behalf of its existing businesses and industries.” What did Oklahoma do for its existing businesses and industries?

History of CareerTech -18- Timeline 1990 1995

1992—Ben Nighthorse 1994—Northridge earthquake 1997—Dolly the sheep is cloned; Campbell (Colorado) elected in California; Nelson Mandela Pathfinder sends back images of Mars; The Big first Native American becomes President of South Tiger Woods becomes the youngest member of the Senate Africa golfer to win the Masters at age 21 Picture 1993—NAFTA approved; 1995—Murrah building bombing 1998—Explosive growth of the Internet Family & Medical Leave Act in Oklahoma City begins mandates that employers provide unpaid time off for 1999—Euro becomes new European worker and family medical currency; fear of Y2K bug; world purposes; Slovakia separates population reaches 6 billion from Czechoslovakia

1993 STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVES AND TRAINING In the early 1990s, a major focus of industry training was on quality principles and strategic planning. The BIS/ACD staff at the state agency were major providers of this training to industry clients. The entire agency staff also participated in a quality improvement process. The CIMC developed a related instructional resource in 1993 titled, Strategic Management for Business: A Process for Design and Implementation.

1999 BENSON SUCCEEDS PETERS AS STATE DIRECTOR Roy Peters resigned as state director, having joined the state director in 1999. During his 1999 staff as a curriculum specialist in tenure as director, total STATE AGENCY LAUNCHES 1973. Her tenure witnessed the vocational enrollments more “SKILLS TO REBUILD” EFFORT renaming of the agency and its than doubled. Dr. Ann Benson After a series of tornadoes governing board, the awarding succeeded Peters as state struck across the state on the of a $2.2 million grant to manage evening of May 3, the state a national career clusters agency prepared and presented initiative, and the creation of the a comprehensive “Skills to CareerTech Learning Network, Rebuild” curriculum through 13 among other achievements. She of the area vocational-technical was the first woman to hold the schools. The classes were state director’s job. intended to equip people with the skills they needed to repair 1999 their own homes and businesses. FHA BECOMES FCCLA Voting delegates approved the proposed name change to Family, Career and Community Leaders of America at the National Leadership Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

History of CareerTech -19- Timeline 2000

2000—Millennium celebrations take 2001—Oklahoma City bombing 2002—Women’s The Big place; last original Peanuts comic museum is dedicated at the earnings in the U.S. strip is published; first meeting Oklahoma City National Memorial average 78% of men’s; Picture between Presidents of North and Center; Enron files for Chapter 11 more than one in eight South Korea bankruptcy; September 11 terrorist people in the U.S. are attacks; U.S. attack on Afghanistan of Hispanic origin; Euro begins banknotes and coins become legal tender in 12 member states of the European Union

2000-2020 had nine members consisting funds scholarships for staff of the state superintendent professional development. As 2000 of public instruction, two of 2018, the lottery had raised CHANGING OF “VOCATIONAL” members from the State Board nearly $900 million for the TO “CAREER AND of Education, five members state’s educational system. TECHNOLOGY” EDUCATION appointed by Congressional WITH HOUSE BILL 2128 district, and one at-large 2004 Gov. Frank Keating signed member. PASSAGE OF STATE BILL 1271 House Bill 2128 into law on May The Oklahoma legislature passed 19, 2000. This law changed 2004 State Bill 1271, which authorized the name of the agency to the BERKENBILE NAMED STATE technology centers to hire Oklahoma Department of Career DIRECTOR AND 500,000 certified instructors to teach and Technology Education TOTAL ENROLLMENTS math and science (including and that of the state board to REACHED calculus and physics) for pre- the State Board of Career and The CareerTech System reached engineering, biomedical science, Technology Education. This the milestone of 500,000 total and biotechnology students. In change paralleled a national enrollments during the same addition, CareerTech partnered trend; the American Vocational year that Dr. Phil Berkenbile was with the Oklahoma State Association had already become hired as the sixth state director Regents for Higher Education to the Association for Career in the system’s history; he had launch the Cooperative Alliance and Technical Education, and been the acting state director Program, which allowed high 30 other states had replaced since May 2003. (Berkenbile school students to earn college “vocational” in the names of succeeded Peter Buswell, who credit toward science degrees agencies and governing boards served as state director briefly in by completing courses at with “career,” “technology,” and 2003.) technology centers or colleges. other variations. In Oklahoma, the area vocational-technical 2004 2005 schools became technology OKLAHOMA LOTTERY LAUNCH OF OKLAHOMA centers. This change reflected INITIATIVE HORIZON both evolving style and In 2004, Oklahoma voters In cooperation with the Oklahoma substance. approved two state questions Department of Agriculture, Food that created the Oklahoma and Forestry, the CareerTech 2000 Lottery Commission and the state agency began producing CHANGE FROM FBLA TO BPA Oklahoma Lottery Trust fund the television program Oklahoma FBLA programs to help support education. “Oklahoma Horizon,” which became affiliated with Business Lottery tickets first went on focused on agriculture, economic Professionals of America. sale in Oklahoma in 2005. Since development, and training and 2006, Oklahoma CareerTech education for career success. The 2003 has received a percentage of weekly 30-minute show aired CREATION OF A NEW STATE the Oklahoma Lottery Education for 12 years on OETA channels BOARD STRUCTURE Trust Fund. The majority of in multiple time slots. The The Oklahoma State Legislature this money provides additional “Oklahoma Horizon” staff ceased established a new structure for funding for computers and production in June 2017, largely the State Board of Career and other equipment for technology due to statewide budget cuts that Technology Education. Whereas centers and comprehensive affected all state agencies. the former board consisted of 13 schools. Approximately members, the redesigned board 10 percent of the lottery money CareerTech receives

History of CareerTech -20- Timeline 2000 2005

2003—U.S.-led invasion of 2004—Dedication of World 2005—Hurricane Katrina hits Gulf Iraq; space shuttle Columbia War II Memorial in Washington, Coast The Big breaks apart during re- DC; SpaceShipOne is the first entry over Texas; UK lab privately-funded spaceplane to 2006—U.S. U.S. swimmer Michael Picture confirms the presence of achieve spaceflight; rovers Spirit Phelps wins his eighth gold medal at BSE in samples taken from and Opportunity land on Mars, the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing; a cow in Washington state, find evidence of past water; U.S. population reaches 300 million; prompting several countries Facebook launches global financial crisis hits; Twitter to announce a ban on the launches importation of U.S. beef

2006 a reduction in force resulted in 2014 PERKINS ACT INCLUDES CTSO 30 fewer full-time employees. ADDITION OF ADULT BASIC ACTIVITIES AS ALLOWABLE EDUCATION USE OF FUNDS 2012 The state legislature moved The 2006 Perkins Act, an PARTNERSHIP WITH the -Lifelong updated version of earlier OKLAHOMA MILITARY Learning grant to the Oklahoma Perkins laws passed in 1998, CONNECTION Department of Career and 1990, and 1984, provided Oklahoma Military Connection Technology Education. The resources to secondary and places civilian employers federal Workforce Innovation postsecondary career and in contact with Oklahoma and Opportunity Act, Title technical education programs to Transitioning military, veterans, II: Adult Education and support innovation and program service members, and their Family Act provides improvement. The Perkins Act families. It is a cooperative effort supplemental funds to help specifically includes career and among the following: adults become employable, technology student organization productive citizens through the activities as an allowable use • Oklahoma Employment following: of funds at the state and local Security Commission. level. Local uses of funds for • Office of Workforce • Adult basic education. supporting career and technical Development. • High school-level courses for student organizations can • Oklahoma Department GED students. include “student preparation for of Career and Technology • English as a second language. and participation in technical Education (CareerTech for • U.S. citizenship classes. skills competitions aligned with Vets). • English language literacy. career and technical education • Oklahoma Military Department • Civics education. program standards and (Employment Coordination curricula” (Carl D. Perkins Career Program). and Technical Education Act • Citizen Soldier for Life. of 2006, as amended through P.L. 116-6, enacted February 15, 2013 2019). SOMMERS NAMED STATE DIRECTOR 2010 Following Dr. Berkenbile’s STATE AGENCY ADAPTS retirement, in April 2013, the DURING ECONOMIC CareerTech Board named Dr. DOWNTURN Robert Sommers the agency’s After several years of declining seventh director. Governor Mary state revenue, the state agency Fallin also named him the state’s began to adjust priorities and secretary of education and tighten its belt. In spite of the workforce development. oil boom that occurred from Sommers placed digital delivery around 2008 to 2015, Oklahoma as a priority for the CareerTech public school funding faced a system. He facilitated a mini- 24 percent budget reduction reorganization of the agency, in during that time. As one of addition to strategic planning many cost-cutting measures, and performance-improvement CareerTech’s Service Center and efforts. After serving as state Warehouse divisions merged director for 16 months, Dr. to increase efficiency. An early Sommers returned to his home retirement incentive followed by state of Ohio.

History of CareerTech -21- Timeline 2005

2007—iPhone debuts 2010—BP’s Deepwater 2012—The 1893 painting The The Big Horizon oil platform explodes Scream by Edvard Munch sells at 2008—Barack Obama elected as into Gulf of Mexico; Pinterest auction for $120 million; Nevada Picture the 44th President of the United and Instagram launch; iPad grants Google the first licenses States and the first African- released for driverless cars; American American president biochemist Jennifer Doudna and 2011—Osama bin Laden killed French microbiologist Emmanuelle in Pakistan by U.S. special Charpentier developed CRISPR- forces; the 30-year-old Cas9, a method for editing genes; Space Shuttle program ends; Kodak files for bankruptcy Snapchat launches

2015 in Enid. Under her leadership, medical interventions, LAUNCH OF OKCAREERGUIDE. the CareerTech System biotechnical engineering ORG WEBSITE implemented multiple and aerospace engineering The website is a partnership advancements to meet (science); and computer among the Oklahoma the changing needs of the integrated manufacturing Department of Career and environment with maintained and computer science and Technology Education, focus on continuous software engineering (computer CareerTech for VETS, Oklahoma improvement to ensure the education). The approval Works and Kuder Connect 2 work of CareerTech remains resulted from cooperation Business. The website offers the the cornerstone for workforce among the state CareerTech following: development in the state. agency, the Oklahoma State Dr. Mack created statewide Department of Education and • Education and planning advisory committees with the Oklahoma State Regents for resources and guidance for business and industry leaders, Higher Education. , high school, students, educators and military postsecondary, and adult personnel. She continued to students. advance the system’s mission 2017-2018 • Career transition information in the midst of state economic HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT for veterans. challenges through partnerships REACHES MILESTONE • Resources for parents, with various entities. Nearly half (86,131) of Oklahoma teachers and school ninth- through 12th-grade counselors. 2015 students were enrolled in • Opportunities to target CAREERTECH COURSES CareerTech classes in FY2018. businesses and other potential APPROVED FOR ACADEMIC employers. CREDIT 2019 The Oklahoma Department CAREERTECH NAMED TO 2015 of Career and Technology ENERGY WORKFORCE MACK NAMED STATE Education received approval CONSORTIUM DIRECTOR to count several Project Lead State energy industry Dr. Marcie Mack, state director The Way courses as math representatives create the of the Oklahoma Department and science academic credits Oklahoma Energy Workforce of Career and Technology in the Achieving Classroom Consortium to ensure that Education, became the eighth Excellence College Preparatory/ a talented and highly skilled state director in 2015. She had Work Ready Curriculum and the workforce is ready to meet served as the deputy state Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship the growing demands of a top director/chief operations officer program. Courses that were Oklahoma industry. A goal of and the interim state director approved for academic credit the consortium is to develop for the department. Prior to are digital electronics (math); a career cluster for energy to coming to CareerTech, she principles of biomedical make Oklahoma students more served in various capacities science, human body systems, aware of the energy industry at Autry Technology Center biomedical innovations, and the career paths available

Discussion Guide Refer to Learning to Earn: A History of Career and Technology Education in Oklahoma.

What became official on May 19, 2000, and the signing of House Bill 2128 into law?

What challenges do you think will face the Oklahoma CareerTech System in the next three years? In the next 10 years?

History of CareerTech -22- Timeline 2015

2013—Due to the growing 2015—Millennials surpassed 2017—A solar eclipse traversed success of online streaming Baby Boomers as the largest the lower 48 states; TikTok The Big services, the phrase “binge generation in the U.S. launches watching” becomes part Picture of the vernacular; Grumpy 2016—The Chicago Cubs won Cat and Kid President go their first World Series title since viral; the game Candy Crush 1908 attracts 46 million players monthly

to them in energy. Gov. Kevin authorities. These measures Stitt also tasked the Oklahoma included implementing telework CareerTech System with processes for agency and creating a strategic emphasis on school employees, canceling educating and training the next or rescheduling events as generation of the state’s energy appropriate, moving instruction workforce. to online platforms, and pursuing opportunities to proactively 2019 address the unique needs of CAREERTECH SYSTEM BUDGET REQUEST FOCUSES ON partners and stakeholders ELIMINATING STATE SKILLS statewide, among many other GAP measures. A hallmark of the The state agency’s CareerTech System’s response appropriations request for fiscal was its flexibility in supporting year 2020 targeted narrowing the safer-at-home efforts of all Oklahoma’s skills gap through Oklahoma residents. a proposed funding increase to allow CareerTech to achieve the following:

• Fund more than 130 unfunded programs and provide for 90 2020 new programs to be added to STATE CAREERTECH SYSTEM K-12 CareerTech offerings. RESPONDS TO COVID-19 • Add 12 new programs in state PANDEMIC correctional facilities that With the COVID-19 outbreak, would serve 500 to 600 more the state CareerTech system inmates. • Increase Training for Industry responded to safeguard Programs by 10 percent to the health of its students, more than 3,200 enrollments. employees, partners, and • Increase customized training the public. Agency and by 10 percent to almost technology center leadership 300,000 enrollments. implemented specific measures • Increase certifications/ to help mitigate the known credentials annually by 5 and potential risks, in line with percent, adding almost 2,400 directives issued by Gov. Kevin more during three years. Stitt and guidance provided by state and national public health

History of CareerTech -23- Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-4364