Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), this study contributes to empirical efforts to understand factors affecting the career-development process of American youth by focusing on change in occupational expectations between age 16 and 26. The study is based on the secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Education Longitudinal…

Adolescence is a universal developmental stage where many changes occur (i.e., biological, social, and psychological) during the second decade of life. Emerging adulthood a subsequent development period between adolescence and young adulthood; during emerging adulthood individuals go through various transitions such as academic and career…

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) continue to be a major challenge for the United States (U.S.), as the U.S. continues to lag behind other countries in this area due to ongoing lack of individuals who are entering STEM fields and many who are entering STEM fields but lack the skills necessary to perform adequately in these roles.…

This study examined the association between elementary students' (N = 1627; 51.3% girls, ages 4-12) engineering-related ability beliefs (competence), task-value beliefs (interest, importance), and career aspirations. Findings suggest that mean levels of children's engineering-related beliefs did not vary by gender. High levels of competence,…

This paper contributes to debates about gender and diversity in teaching. Exploring the underrepresentation of males, socially constructed as a privileged group, is a complex task for researchers working within a social justice framework. Drawing on a national dataset (N = 5,627), we explore entry patterns to primary and post-primary Initial…

This dissertation examined the relationship between student engagement in college and subsequent employment status and early career earnings in a public university. This study sought to understand whether or not student academic and social experiences in college are related to post-baccalaureate early career earnings. The literature review…

The purpose of this qualitative, narrative case study was to explore the impact of spirituality in professional African-American women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) fields. With laws and policies established, religion and spirituality has to some been deemed controversial--especially in education. However, literature…

An increase in the property tax rate of a school district creates an increase in local revenues for the district (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. [MODESE], 2017). The overarching question becomes: Do increases in the local tax levy compare to improved student performance? The purpose of this quantitative study was to…

Students from higher-income households have more advantages related to access to a quality education and educational opportunities. These advantages give students from higher-income households many opportunities to achieve academic and career success. Low-income African-American students, on the other hand, encounter many challenges as they aspire…

In the 127th Legislative Session, "An Act to Implement Certain Recommendations of the Maine Proficiency Education Council" (S.P. 660 - L.D. 1627) was passed into law as Chapter 489 amending the chaptered law "An Act to Prepare Maine People for the Future Economy" (S.P.439 - L.D.1422) passed in 2012 requiring Maine school…

Using adolescents' narratives and survey data presented in earlier studies, we draw upon Berry's model of four acculturation strategies (2015) to examine adolescents' narratives regarding the future orientation domains of education-and-career and marriage-and-family (Seginer, 2009) by three groups of nonimmigrant minority adolescents in Israel:…

Demand for jobs in many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and in the health care field is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019). However, the current STEM and health care workforces are characterized by demographic disparities and a lack of…

"Transformational Learning in Community Colleges" details the profound social and emotional change that nontraditional and historically underserved students undergo when they enter community college. Drawing on case study material and student observations, the book outlines the systematic supports that two-year institutions must put in…

While technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has the potential to bolster the participation of women in the labour market, this potential is not always well understood and capitalized on. In general, female students are lowly represented in TVET compared to general programmes, and in particular girls and women tend to be…

The Career and Technical Education program (CTE) in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) has a mission to equip students with the marketable academic and technical skills needed to compete in the global workforce and/or to continue their education at the post-secondary level after graduation. Consequently, the goals of the CTE program…