PERCEPTIONS OF STATE CAREER EDUCATION COORDINATORS CONCERNING PROBLEMS AND PRIORITIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CAREER EDUCATION

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of career education in terms of status, problems and priorities, they included: (1) The extent to which formal mechanisms have been established in states which promote the development and implementation of career education. (2) The approximate total dollars invested in career education by individual states for the 1977-1978 school year. (3) The extent to which school districts have implemented career education. (4) The major constraints/successes experienced by state and local coordinators of career education in the implementation of career education programs. (5) The extent to which career education programs in states are being conceptualized and implemented in accordance with the goals identified by United States Office of Education (USOE).;A descriptive research methodology was utilized for the study design. The data analysis primarily consisted of comparisons total numbers and percentages and measures of association.;The following conclusions were derived from the findings of the study with regard to the five objectives: (1) Career education is not progressing at a rapid rate as initially predicted by its "founders" in the early 1970's. (2) Local and state fiscal support for career education has increased in 1977-78 as compared to 1974-75. (3) Career education has not been extensively infused into the curriculum in grades K-12. (4) Kindergarten through grade six have more extensively infused career education into the curriculum than all other grade levels. (5) The major constraints of reduction in fiscal resources and attitudes of local education administrators toward career education, must be overcome before implementation of the concept can be realized. (6) Elementary schools and guidance personnel have been the most receptive educational personnel in the implementing of career education. (7) The U.S. Office of Education goals for career education are an integral part of the conceptual framework and implementation of career education programs nationally.;State coordinators of career education comprised the population to be studied. The survey was responded to by 54 of the 57 potential study participants (50 states, 6 territories and District of Columbia).