Americans believe that the skills required for college are different from those required for work. The public believes that schools are not doing an adequate job of preparing students for work or college. Most Americans believe that their children will go to college and therefore won't need vocational or occupational skills, but prefer to maintain traditional vocational education, primarily for other children, who won't go on to college. Americans would like to see more emphasis in schools on career and workforce skills. Americans have mixed views on when to start the emphasis on careers and workforce preparation.
Students favor adding a career emphasis to their curriculum.
Students value learning good work habits and practical job skills. Americans favor providing work experience for high school students. Students and educators want to see more courses that have relevance to life after graduation.