Occupationally specific education in high school lowers the dropout rate of at-risk students and, if training related jobs are obtained, it increases the wages and employment after graduation as well. Unfortunately, less than half of vocational graduates work in occupations that match (very broadly defined) their training. High training related placement rates appear to result when well informed career choices precede training, when training is for an occupation in strong demand, when employers are involved in delivery and vocational teachers (not placement directors) take responsibility for the placement of their students. It is recommended that states make local vocational programs more accountable by funding them through a formula that rewards success in serving students, rather than just success in recruiting them, and that offers greater rewards for success with more challenging students. © 1989.
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