Federal legislation has attempted to move career and technical education (CTE) from a narrow focus on low-wage job attainment for non-college bound youth to programs of study that prepare students for college and career readiness. However, few studies have demonstrated CTEs potential to prepare students for college. Using propensity score…

There is considerable research demonstrating strong benefits of the career academy model to students and teachers, but there is little indicating why students enroll in academies and what methods of recruitment may work best. This study assessed factors influencing students' decisions to enroll in career academy programs by looking at factors that…

The purpose of this study was to compare the student engagement of career academy students to those at a traditional comprehensive high school. We operationalized student engagement using a multi-dimensional construct comprised of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional measures. Based on data from 669 career academy students and 614 comprehensive…

The purpose of this study was to uncover and describe the key components of a "distinguished" National Academy Foundation (NAF) information technology (IT) academy and the nature of implementation to prepare students to be college, career and future ready. Based on 77 semistructured interviews of stakeholders of the academy, we found the…

A survey measure was developed to assess high school students' experience, knowledge, and self-confidence related to health care careers. In the fall and spring of one school year, the measure was administered to a diverse sample of 2,309 students participating in career academies focused on the health care industry. Confirmatory factor analyses…

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent that demographic, prior CTE coursework and academic achievement variables predict participation in career academies. Data included information on 17,934 students from 10 comprehensive high schools within one Florida school district in the academic school year of 2012-13. Findings indicated: (a)…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to capture the perspectives of 13 Masters' students, who are also practitioners in Career and Technical Education (CTE), regarding the trends, issues, and future directions in the field. The analysis of interview and focus group data led to the identification of three recurring themes. The first theme was…

Recent legislation in Florida mandated that all school districts open at least one career academy by the 2008-2009 school-year, impacting career academy implementation dramatically. As the number of career academies in Florida increases, ensuring success requires attention to the complexities of implementation. Qualitative research conducted with…

Career academies have been effective in reducing the high school dropout rates and increasing academic course taking and course credit accumulation among students (Kemple & Willner, 2008; Kemple & Snipes, 2000). However, not all students have access to career academy programs as they are not universally implemented across the state of…

Data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 database was used to determine the effects of career academy participation in grades 9 or 10 on educational aspirations. Propensity score matching was used to obtain initially equivalent groups for analysis. No statistically significant differences in postsecondary educational aspirations were…

The federal career and technical legislation reauthorized in 2006 required the recipients of its funding to offer at least one Program of Study (POS). All states have developed some components of POS through earlier initiatives, primarily Tech Prep, career pathways, and youth apprenticeship, that attempted to ease the transition of students from…

This study analyzes urban youths' career decision-making in a career and technical education program that provided work-based learning experiences and a pathway linking high school, community college, and work in biotechnology laboratories. The program provided work experiences not generally available to adolescents, and enabled students…