First, in 1995, we conducted a follow-up survey with the same sample of local Tech Prep consortia that responded to our initial survey in 1993. Of the total group of 397 consortia responding in 1993, 339 responded again in 1995, yielding an 85 percent response rate. Nearly 60 percent of the 1995 respondents were the same people who completed our survey in 1993. This high response rate ensured that similar information was provided in 1993 and 1995, helping us better understand how implementation had progressed over that two-year time period. Table 1 shows the survey population, sample, and response rate by state for both surveys.
| State | State Consortia as of June 1993 | Consortia Surveyed in 1993 | Number/Percent Responding in 1993 & Re-surveyed in 1995 | Number/Percent Responding in 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32 | 16 | 12 (75%) | 10 (83%) |
| Alaska | 3 | 3 | 2 (67%) | 1 (50%) |
| Arizona | 14 | 7 | 6 (86%) | 4 (67%) |
| Arkansas | 13 | 7 | 7 (100%) | 4 (57%) |
| California | 70 | 35 | 30 (86%) | 27 (90%) |
| Colorado | 20 | 10 | 7 (70%) | 4 (67%) |
| Connecticut | 14 | 7 | 4 (57%) | 4 (100%) |
| DC | 1 | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) |
| Florida | 17 | 9 | 7 (77%) | 6 (86%) |
| Georgia | 58 | 29 | 24 (83%) | 22 (92%) |
| Hawaii | 1 | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) |
| Idaho | 6 | 6 | 4 (66%) | 4 (100%) |
| Illinois | 40 | 20 | 20 (100%) | 16 (80%) |
| Indiana | 18 | 9 | 7 (83%) | 7 (100%) |
| Iowa | 6 | 6 | 5 (83%) | 3 (60%) |
| Kansas | 6 | 6 | 4 (66%) | 4 (100%) |
| Kentucky | 44 | 22 | 16 (73%) | 12 (75%) |
| Louisiana | 13 | 7 | 7 (100%) | 5 (71%) |
| Maine | 6 | 6 | 6 (100%) | 5 (83%) |
| Maryland | 16 | 8 | 8 (100%) | 6 (75%) |
| Massachusetts | 11 | 6 | 5 (83%) | 4 (80%) |
| Michigan | 39 | 20 | 17 (85%) | 15 (88%) |
| Minnesota | 24 | 12 | 9 (75%) | 9 (100%) |
| Mississippi | 14 | 7 | 7 (100%) | 7 (100%) |
| Missouri | 12 | 6 | 5 (83%) | 5 (100%) |
| Montana | 4 | 4 | 3 (75%) | 3 (100%) |
| Nebraska | 6 | 6 | 6 (100%) | 6 (100%) |
| Nevada | 3 | 3 | 3 (100%) | 3 (100%) |
| N. Hampshire | 4 | 4 | 3 (75%) | 2 (67%) |
| New Jersey | 21 | 11 | 9 (82%) | 7 (78%) |
| New Mexico | 13 | 7 | 7 (100%) | 6 (86%) |
| New York | 28 | 14 | 11 (79%) | 11 (100%) |
| North Carolina | 47 | 23 | 23 (100%) | 23 (100%) |
| North Dakota | 1 | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) |
| Ohio | 13 | 7 | 7 (100%) | 7 (100%) |
| Oklahoma | 10 | 10 | 8 (80%) | 5 (63%) |
| Oregon | 20 | 11 | 9 (82%) | 7 (78%) |
| Pennsylvania | 22 | 11 | 11 (100%) | 10 (91%) |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) |
| South Carolina | 16 | 8 | 7 (88%) | 5 (71%) |
| South Dakota | 4 | 4 | 4 (100%) | 3 (75%) |
| Tennessee | 15 | 8 | 6 (75%) | 5 (83%) |
| Texas | 25 | 14 | 11 (79%) | 11 (100%) |
| Utah | 11 | 6 | 4 (67%) | 2 (50%) |
| Vermont | 9 | 9 | 6 (67%) | 4 (67%) |
| Virginia | 34 | 17 | 13 (76%) | 11 (85%) |
| Washington | 18 | 9 | 8 (89%) | 7 (88%) |
| W. Virginia | 11 | 6 | 5 (83%) | 4 (80%) |
| Wisconsin | 16 | 8 | 6 (75%) | 5 (83%) |
| Wyoming | 4 | 4 | 3 (75%) | 3 (100%) |
| TOTAL | 855 | 473 | 397 (84%) | 339 (85%) |
The mail questionnaire used for the 1995 follow-up survey was very similar to the initial instrument, although some changes were made. One important reason for modifications was to take into account changes that might have occurred in Tech Prep because of the introduction of the federal School-To-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) of 1994. With the infusion of new funding to stimulate systemic reform in school-based learning, work-based learning, and connecting activities, we hypothesized that Tech Prep programs may have changed to incorporate STWOA components. Other changes were made simply to update and improve the newer version of the questionnaire. For a listing of specific changes made to the 1993 survey to create the 1995 follow-up survey instrument, see Appendix B.
Administration of the follow-up survey in 1995 followed the exact same protocol as for the 1993 survey. Again, the first copy of the survey was mailed in June 1995 with three waves following it to maximize response rate. In September 1995, the follow-up survey was concluded. Appendix C contains aggregated responses and response rates for each item in the 1995 survey.