Increasingly, people are looking for education and training options that are more affordable, flexible, can quickly open doors to good jobs, and--ideally--pave the way for further educational attainment. Businesses also want to hire workers with the skills needed for jobs in growing industries. Non-degree credentials (NDCs) can often meet these…

This article describes two practices employed to close the knowledge gap around accessibility at a postsecondary institution. Practice One integrated accessibility training within existing professional development requirements. Practice Two used a multi-session accessibility training addressing knowledge gaps identified by training registration…

School leaders, specifically principals, play a pivotal role in shaping student learning outcomes. The benefits of strong leaders extend beyond academic achievement, such as reductions in absenteeism and exclusionary discipline. While quality principals are critical for creating and sustaining quality schools, the staffing pipeline is facing…

This qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis study explored the lived experiences of seven peer recovery specialists as they described their experiences with the Virginia Peer Recovery Certification Process and/or obtaining leadership roles. This research was viewed through a disability lens, along with modified labeling theory,…

More than half of states have implemented tuition-free college policies aimed at reducing attendance costs and incentivizing enrollment. We review the academic literature on the design features and impacts of these tuition-free policies, and we analyze an initiative Virginia implemented in 2021 called Get a Skill, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3), which…

In response to rising college tuition and student debt over the past three decades, some institutions, localities, and states have implemented a range of tuition-free promise programs to promote college access and success. Programs vary widely in their design features, including eligibility stipulations and award structure. I explore the growing…

Get A Skill, Get A Job, Get Ahead (G3) is a state-funded last-dollar scholarship program for students enrolling in eligible associate degree, certificate, and noncredit occupational training programs in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) in five high-demand fields: early childhood education, healthcare, information technology, public…

Students who complete Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs participate in approved external examinations that test technical skills. When a student passes the exam, in addition to the certificate or license earned, a credential is awarded. This, when combined with the standard credit for a CTE course, can be used as a verified credit for…

Cosmetology is one of the most widely and onerously regulated occupations for lower-income workers, yet little research has explored the experiences of aspiring beauty workers. This first-of-its-kind study takes advantage of federal educational data--including a large, and largely untapped, dataset on nondegree credentials and work experience…

Nationally, the labor market is seeking workers to fill the increasing number of high salary job vacancies, but those qualified to fill them are in limited supply. The skills and third-party industry credentials earned in secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs seem a perfect fit for the student, employer, and economy. However,…

Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students for many of the jobs in Virginia forecasted to experience the fastest growth in the coming years. Given the large percentage of jobs that require some type of postsecondary education or training (currently estimated at 63 percent of all jobs in the United States), it is critical that high…

The prevalence and contributing factors of workplace bullying (WPB) are unknown among school nurses (SNs) in kindergarten to 12th grade programs. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine individual and organizational characteristics of WPB in a sample of SNs in Virginia. Based on the Short-Negative Acts Questionnaire, 40% of nurses did…

In Virginia, all high school students can earn either a Standard diploma or an Advanced Studies diploma, the latter being a college preparatory diploma. Starting in 2017, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) began requiring students graduating with the Standard diploma to earn a career and technical education (CTE) credential to encourage…

State policymakers, including state leaders, districts, and professional associations, play a role in fostering an environment that supports the development of effective school principals, with the broad policy objective of achieving high principal quality across the state. This report examines how seven states use state policy levers to advance…

States play a role in fostering an environment that develops and supports effective school leaders. Prior research has highlighted opportunities to enhance state involvement in supporting school leadership through a range of policy levers, especially by promoting improvements to principal preparation (Manna, 2015; Davis, 2016). The Wallace…