Special teacher perceptions of vocational education for mildly handicapped students in rural, urban, and suburban high schools

Abstract

A questionnaire was mailed to a special education teacher in each of the 127 high schools in the state of Arizona. The questionnaire included demographic information and five questions related to career and vocational education for mildly handicapped students. Most high schools report administering vocational interest inventories, but less than 60% actually use the results when placing students into vocational programs. Analysis of the data after categorizing schools as rural, urban, and suburban indicates significantly different responses on three of the five questions, with fewer rural schools administering interest inventories, using the results of such inventories for placement, and placing mildly handicapped students in special vocational programs.