February 2025

Legacy - Community Contribution

The DC City Council, through the Deputy Office of the Mayor (DOM) for Education, is seeking participants who are willing to answer thoughtfully crafted questions for a research project to explore the history and evolution of vocational and career technical education in Washington, DC. They are particularly interested in the personal insights of DCPS alumni on the topics. To that end, the DOM has provided the following research questions for your purview:
Vocational Research Interview Questions

1. What high school did you attend, and when did you graduate?
2. Why did you choose to attend that school? What factors influenced your decision?
3. During your time in high school, did you feel a push toward attending college? How do you think this affected you or other students?
4. How did you feel about the closures of standalone vocational schools under the control board? Why do you think they closed?
5. What were the biggest strengths and weaknesses of standalone vocational schools compared to comprehensive high schools?
6. What was your experience with vocational education in high school? Did you feel prepared for career opportunities?
7. How did the tracking system impact students in vocational programs? How was it perceived by the community?
8. How do you feel about the shift from "Vocational Education" to "Career and Technical Education" (CTE)? Has this rebranding changed opportunities or public perception?

Any Spingarn Alumni who want to participate in the project may contact me at [email protected]. In addition, if there's an interest in participating in an onsite research meeting on 2/19/25, please contact me by 2/17/25 for additional details.

M. K. Bobo -  SAA Legacy Committee