A Case Study of a Career Academy Development: Good Intentions Not Enough?

• In Event: 61.069 - MTCC Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 61.069-7 - The Effectiveness of Career and Technical Education Programs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how a career academy with an information technology (IT) theme approached the adoption of the model, the particular curricular focus, and the contextual role of community conditions. Using a case study approach, we learned that the academy development followed a pattern highlighted in the literature of school restructuring in the context of small learning communities. We also learned that good intentions are not enough to guarantee the consistent implementation as originally planned. When new crises come along, input from all stakeholders may be shortchanged and turned into a top-down approach. Further, the role of local conditions should be carefully considered to account for particular needs of parents and students.

Authors

• Victor M Hernandez-Gantes, University of South Florida

• Edward Charles Fletcher, The Ohio State University - Columbus

• Sasha M Keighobadi, University of South Florida