Defined benefit (DB) pension plans incentivize "salary spiking," where sharp increases in pay are leveraged into significantly higher levels of retirement compensation. While egregious instances of salary spiking occasionally make headlines, there is little guidance on the definition of salary-spiking behavior or understanding of its…

Many states, including Ohio, intend to strengthen and grow their computer science (CS) and information technology (IT) workforces. Jobs in CS and IT are projected to grow in coming years, but it is not always clear how states can expand and diversify their CS and IT workforces. In this report, the authors leverage representative national and state…

The number of jobs in computer science (CS) and information technology (IT) is projected to grow rapidly in the United States over the next decade as the demand for workers expands and current CS and IT workers retire. Against the larger backdrop of growth in CS and IT employment and wages nationally, Ohio is looking for ways to grow and diversify…

The role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Human Capital Development (HCD) and Lifelong Learning (LLL) is more critical than ever in addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world. These organisations bridge educational gaps, promote inclusivity, and empower individuals through innovative approaches to learning and employment. The…

In 2024, Instructure convened a Commission of higher education and lifelong learning experts to assess emerging policies related to skills development, including the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and the Growth and Skills Levy (GSL). These policies aim to reform how education and training are funded and delivered to provide flexibility to…

In an era of education defined by standards and accountability, teacher retention continues to be a major factor contributing to student achievement levels. Particularly in under-resourced, Title I-funded schools the challenge of maintaining adequate staffing of highly qualified educators, especially in mathematics, remains a pressing challenge…

The COVID-19 pandemic placed an undeniable burden onto the teaching profession which already faced levels of prestige and interest at 50-year lows. The strains of the pandemic resulted in educators reporting higher levels of job-related stress and burnout and exacerbated concerns about potential teacher shortages. This dissertation leverages…

This cross-sectional quantitative study examined the relationship between public K-12 leaders' levels of religiosity, job satisfaction, intention to leave, and perceived organizational fit when required to implement policies incongruent with their personal values. This study also explored whether experiences of values incongruence were related to…

Since its inception, agricultural education has been instrumental in equipping secondary graduates with the necessary skills to be successful in their future career endeavors. While this has remained a priority over time, many employers claim that secondary graduates do not possess the necessary skills to be successful in the workforce. This study…

Rural areas can provide a rich context for learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but these communities and the students in them are often overlooked in ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality K-12 STEM education and workforce development. Addressing barriers, often related to funding, and promoting unrecognized…

Although supportive work-life initiatives have advanced in recent years, existing literature shows inconsistent outcomes regarding the adoption and effectiveness of these initiatives. In this conceptual paper, we aim to highlight that an individual's ability to freely negotiate and decide how to manage the relationships between their paid work and…

We used structure equation models to examine the career intent of special education teachers serving students with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD). Known factors of special educator attrition, including race and characteristic of students served, were considered in analyzing career intent. A total of 841 special education teachers across…

CUNY ASAP is a three-year program offering comprehensive student support, financial aid, and structured pathways. The program has served over 100,000 students since 2007 and been replicated across seven states. ASAP's primary goal is to increase the completion of college associate degrees. Specifically, the comprehensive intervention is expected…

This report examines state-funded loan forgiveness and conditional grant programs, designed to alleviate student loan debt and address workforce shortages in high-need fields. These service-contingent programs incentivize graduates to work in targeted occupations or underserved areas in exchange for debt relief.

Tuition-free college programs are gaining momentum as policymakers address rising college costs and workforce readiness. Despite their growing adoption, limited research examines how workforce-focused eligibility criteria impact student outcomes beyond enrollment. This pre-registered study employs two within-study quasi-experimental…