Alignment of CTE Centers with the Baldrige Quality Award in Education Criteria: Perceptions of Leaders and Faculty

This study examined career and technical education (CTE) centers in Michigan and their potential alignment with the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award in Education. CTE center leaders and their faculty were asked to provide their perceptions of how well their organizations meet Baldrige quality elements, using a version of the Baldrige Assessment Tool. The study further queried CTE center leaders and faculty with regard to quality awards received and their desire to pursue external quality award. Differences between CTE leaders and faculty responses were explored. This research used an on-line survey to gather perceptions of CTE center leaders and faculty. The data collection tool utilized a six-point Likert scale moving from strong disagreement to strong agreement (6.0). Of the CTE center leaders and faculty, 293 responded; nearly three-fourths were faculty. Frequency, descriptive, and ANOVA statistics revealed the perception by CTE center leaders and faculty that their organizations were strong enough to win external quality award. Of the 40 Baldrige items on the assessment tool, only four items had less than 50% of participants not indicating moderate and/or strong agreement. Items ranked from a 5.71 to 4.04 mean. Statistically significant differences between leaders and faculty were identified in four categories.