Studies show that developing general skills and cognitive ability, rather than narrow vocational education, helps students perform better on the job and in further education. We really want to emphasize getting as many students prepared for and participating in postsecondary education as possible. That's where the heavier benefits are likely to be found. We can't work miracles with students who stop with a high school degree. Sending more young people on to higher education will be extremely expensive.
Large returns require large investments of both time and money.
Given those stakes, it would make sense to find out first which programs work best at developing skills and motivating students. And knowledge is slowly accumulating, starting with the admirably critical synthesis published this year by the National Assessment of Vocational Education. Other useful studies are underway. The Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation has taken on the task but will not issue a final report until 2002. Many legislators are understandably loathe to await the results before launching expensive new programs that promise to make the world a better place.