Investigation of the effects of agriculture education programs on students preparedness for post secondary education

There has been an increased focus on the role of career technical education as school districts shift to Common Core standards. Agriculture Education is an integral role in preparing students to meet the demands of the economy after high school. The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of agriculture students related to their readiness for college and careers. This research also sought to determine the effectiveness of agriculture programs in providing students with skills that are necessary following high school. The target population for this study included seniors and recent graduates enrolled in agriculture education courses in the Kern High School District in Bakersfield, California. A random sample was used for the population of this study. An electronic survey was used to survey 68 respondents. This study found that a high number of students plan to continue their education beyond high school. Furthermore, students understand the requirements to meet A-G eligibility, but indicated that the most difficult requirements to satisfy include mathematics and language other than English. Results indicated that students perceived their agriculture education program was effective in preparing them with skills necessary for college or a career.