The Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 established what type of public education program?

• A. Vocational Education
• B. Primary Education
• C. Higher Education
• D. Special Education

Answer: (A)

The Smith-Hughes Act established a federal-supported public program specifically for vocational education in schools. It created funds for states to develop and run vocational training in secondary education, covering areas like agriculture, trades, industry, and home economics, and it also funded training for teachers who would lead these programs. This was the first major move to federally support career-focused instruction in public schools, aiming to prepare a skilled workforce for industry and agriculture.

It isn’t about general primary education, higher education, or special education, which have different purposes and funding origins. The act’s unique focus was building and funding vocational education at the secondary level and shaping the teacher workforce for those programs.