RE: Question 2: Single curriculum

I agree.  While all kinds of educators and administrators are getting very excited about "college preparation", no one is noticing that by far the majority of our high school students enter the workforce directly out of school.  Currently they are completely unprepared (except arguably in basic academic skills).  Unbelievably, we not see movements such as SB1731 which will further damage the preparation of these 60 to 70% of our students.
  Some thoughts:
   all students need technological literacy
   current academics are not tied to the real world in most cases
   our state's technology education system is proven and effective, but needs support and maintenance (updating and integrating with academics, new equipment, accountability).  Since 1978 the state has allowed over 75% of this system to dissappear.  Our economy, society, adn students need it back.
   All the "foo foo raw" we will hear tomorrow about career and tech prep is no substitute for true technology education, and all students can benefit from it, including the college bound.  

See the CDE report:  "Building for Tomorrow:  Industrial and Technology Education in California" at:  
http://www.citea.org/images/resources/Building_for_Tomorrow.pdf