A Study On The Policy Changes Of Vocational Education In The US Federal Government

Vocational Education is an important component in the United States educational system, which cultivating professional talents for industrial and agricultural production and tertiary industry, and thus promoting the economic development. The United States has a perfect vocational education system, and it is closely related to the support of the United States Federal Government policies. In1862, President Lincoln signed the "Morrill Act", which marked the beginning of the United States Federal Government intervention in vocational education. The Federal Government adopts the form of legislation and subvention to participate in the development of vocational education. Since then, the Federal Government has enacted a series of acts according to the needs of economic development in different historical periods to promote the development of vocational education.The paper divides the development course of America vocational education into four stages:"the stage of the establishment of vocational education system "(from19th century medium—term to before World War II);"the stage of the resumption and initial development of vocational education"(from after the World War II to1950s);"the stage of the rapid development of vocational education"(from1960s to1970s);"the stage of the reform and improvement of vocational education"(from1980s to1990s). Through the analysis of the Federal Government vocational education policy—policy initialization:intervening in vocational education and establishing a leadership position; policy transition: the continuity and transformation of Military vocational education; policy development:aimed at "the social fairness and justice" of vocational education policy; policy evolution:aimed at "the effectiveness" and "the modernization" of vocational education policy, the paper aims to illustrate the changes of the policy in the four stages. And on this basis, the paper would to analyze the development tendency and characteristics of the Federal Government vocational education policy, and provide some experience and enlightenment for the formulation and development of vocational educational policies in our country.