Date of Graduation

9-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Vinson Carter

Committee Member

Kit Kacirek

Second Committee Member

Michael Daugherty

Keywords

Career and Technical Education;Career Clusters;Career Pathways;Case Study;STEM Education;Technology and Engineering Education

Abstract

Career and technical education (CTE) has been an effort in the United States to help bring quality career preparation programs to secondary schools nationwide, with many career clusters allowing schools to teach various courses. For example, the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career cluster provides interdisciplinary approaches and hands-on activities to help students succeed in postsecondary ventures. One of the integral subjects in STEM education is technology and engineering education (T&EE), which has been synonymous with STEM education for decades. T&EE is a discipline which has been around for over a century, nevertheless it may be confused with CTE. Understanding how these programs have cohesively existed, may allow for better collaboration in the profession. In 2017, the Kansas Department of Education removed the STEM career cluster, although the STEM career cluster is utilized in 37 other state frameworks. In this case study, the implications of removing the STEM career cluster will be examined from the perspective of Kansas teachers, CTE directors, and institutional leaders, specifically investigating the administrative, financial, professional, enrollment, and satisfaction implications. Considering recent trends in T&EE, this study will present contemporary considerations for states, programs, and teachers facing similar concerns.

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