The Urban Institute, in collaboration with the CTE CoLab coalition, published a report this spring discussing COVID-19's impact on postsecondary CTE. Researchers surveyed staff representing eight CTE programs in 69 colleges across 30 states to compare shifts in instructional delivery during the pandemic. The report found that:
- In-person instruction rates were predicted to be lower following the pandemic for six programs: early childhood education; welding; automotive repair; licensed practical nursing; manufacturing technologies; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
- In contrast, IT was expected to have the same in-person instruction rate of 5% and business administration was expected to increase from 3% to 5%.
- Automotive repair and welding programs were predicted to have the highest in-person instruction rates at 68% and 63%; this is a 10% and 8% decrease, respectively, from prior to the pandemic.
- Large shifts toward hybrid instruction were predicted, particularly for licensed practical nursing programs.
The report also detailed opportunities, challenges and other factors that impacted whether college staff planned to offer CTE coursework online. Key findings include the following:
- 42% of respondents noted that hands-on activities and labs are difficult to implement online, and the same percentage said that work-based learning and employer partnerships were also challenges.
- 37% cited their main concern with offering CTE coursework online was maintaining enrollment levels, and 11% indicated that availability of funding would determine their method of instruction.
- Although 19% cited access to technology as a way to lower barriers for students, 32% stated that student access to technology makes online learning and teaching difficult.
- 32% said online programming is an opportunity to offer more courses.
Trends described in this publication align with survey results found in ACTE’s March 2021 report on high-quality CTE during COVID-19. As with the Urban Institute report, ACTE also found that CTE administrators were concerned with enrollment decreases. In addition, ACTE respondents reported similar challenges with hands-on activities and labs as well as work-based learning.
As postsecondary CTE programs begin for fall 2021, some of the Urban Institute’s predictions on instructional delivery have been fulfilled while others have not. Some colleges are reverting to remote or hybrid instruction models temporarily as the COVID-19 Delta variant spreads through the United States. Other colleges plan to return to in-person instruction with COVID-19 vaccine mandates. As of writing, 773 colleges have required students or faculty to receive a vaccination and nearly 50% are encouraging or incentivizing students to get vaccinated.
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