This report is the second in a series that presents evidence about the conditions under which Career and Technical Education (CTE) may be most and least effective and for whom. It focuses on a different set of schools: Comprehensive high schools in New York City (NYC) that offer CTE alongside other educational options. Like the CTE-Dedicated high…

Preparing students for both college and careers has been an explicit national policy objective for more than a decade. Recently, the "College for All" discourse prominent in the early 2000s has faded as more resources and attention have been focused on career-connected learning. New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) has been at the…

There is currently a heavy emphasis on career-connected learning for high school students in New York City. ExpandED Schools' science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Options (ES Options) program predates the newest of these initiatives. Launched in 2019, ES Options combines a credit-bearing STEM apprenticeship in the spring with a…

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented disruption in schooling for teachers, students, and their families. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), like many districts around the nation, shifted to fully remote learning in spring 2020, and most of its schools remained closed during fall 2020. Beginning in January 2021, the district gradually began to…

This report examines the implementation and outcomes of personalized, competency-based learning in the Arizona Personalized Learning Network (AZPLN) districts. The study conducted by Research for Action (RFA) analyzed survey data from students and teachers, as well as publicly available school-level outcomes data to assess the progress and impact…

This annual report looks closely at how Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students are progressing on the path to and through high school and college. In particular, the report examines three key milestones--high school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion--and tracks how rates on these milestones have changed across time. These rates…

The "5Essentials Survey" is one of the few validated instruments to measure school climate. Schools that are strong in at least three of the five essential supports are up to 10 times more likely to experience substantial gains in students' math and reading scores. More than 6,000 schools nationwide have administered the…

In Philadelphia, if a student chooses not to attend their neighborhood school, other options include schools with specialized programming in the arts, sciences, or business fields, schools with career and technical education options, and competitive magnet schools. But choosing an out-of-catchment school rather than a neighborhood school may…

In September 2022, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) announced a major expansion of work-based learning programs for high school students. The initiative, which provides 3,000 students with apprenticeships in technology, business, education, and healthcare, is one part of a larger vision for career-connected learning for all students throughout…

The document is the technical appendices for the report, "Persisting Students: Exploring the Pathways and Outcomes of Students Who Don't Graduate in Four Years, But Remain Enrolled in NYC High Schools." The appendices in this document include: (1) Additional Tables, Sample Information, Key Definitions; and (2) Sampling and Analysis for…

The "5Essentials Survey" is one of the few validated instruments to measure school climate. Schools that are strong in at least three of the five essential supports are up to 10 times more likely to experience substantial gains in students' math and reading scores. More than 6,000 schools nationwide have administered the…

The focus of this study is on understanding different indicators of academic performance in high school, college enrollment, and college persistence of English Learners--including variation in attainment among active and former English Learners--to support their path to high school graduation and access to college. To understand the academic…

Over the past several years, Chicago's educators and community leaders have elevated an all-too-delayed dialogue about the systematic barriers facing communities of color. This annual report looks closely at how Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students are progressing on the path to and through high school and college. In particular, it examines five…

The purpose of this annual report on the educational attainment of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students is to provide practitioners and other stakeholders with an understanding of how CPS students are progressing on the path to and through high school and college. In particular, it examines three key milestones--high school graduation, college…

The important role that education plays in shaping young people's lives has been well-documented. Students who complete higher levels of education are more likely to earn higher salaries, have greater life expectancy, and report higher levels of life satisfaction. Compared to a decade ago, thousands more Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students reach…