My case study focuses on the career development of students and academics in higher education, specifically early-career and teaching-focused staff. We are all navigating the dynamic and extremely competitive landscapes of higher education and job markets, and in this case study I detail my approach to creating 1) pathways supporting student…

In the context of an ongoing national conversation about teacher shortages, we build on prior literature on the efficacy of teacher certification pathways by comparing entry and exit patterns based on age at the time of certification. All trainees who complete a state certification process have invested substantial time and resources into entering…

This report provides formative data about the implementation of projects associated with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education's Attract, Prepare, and Retain (APR) efforts during the 2023-24 school year. We surveyed or interviewed students and educators participating in six such projects: Developing Future Special Educators Grants, APR…

The EIR-funded Work-Based Learning for Computer Science (WBL4CS) grant implemented a three-course, two-year Computer Science (CS) pathway in 20 Rhode Island High Schools. Evaluators from Education Development Center (EDC) employed a cluster randomized controlled trial to study the impact of integrating a Work-Based Learning course into the first…

This article explores utilizing a post-graduation success lens to help community college leaders frame the challenges of achieving equitable improvement for their students. Specifically, it posits that providing and exploring customized labor market data presented in an accessible format can help institutional leaders provide a "true…

This study aims to unpack one element of the logics of gendered educational choices, namely how cultural beliefs about gender can shape young people's judgements about gendered educational tracks. Through a survey experiment conducted among secondary school students in Oslo, Norway, we assess respondents' judgements about fictitious students'…

Recognising the regular adoption, by countries across the globe, of the vocational education and training (VET) model already so prevalent in German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland, this book spotlights dual modes of VET, depicting its global emergence and subsequent cross-national attraction. Globally, the practice of…

Master's programs serve as a traditional entry point for many professionals working in higher education. These programs are at an inflection point with declining enrollments, financial constraints at institutions negatively impacting graduate assistantships, proliferation of anti-diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) policies, and…

Registered Apprenticeships use an "earn while you learn" approach to help learners gain credentials and skills in their chosen occupation while getting paid. These programs offer positive economic returns to both learners and employers--learners gain experience and higher wages upon program completion, and employers see reduced turnover…

The purpose of this action research study was to understand the web of relationship between career exploration programming stakeholders serving public sixth through twelfth grade schools to uncover best practices. This research, originating in the state of Maine, resulted in improved understanding of the personalities, goals, and characteristics…

Young people's decision-making about postschool pathways are influenced and shaped by parents, teachers, and other familiars. Yet, these familiars are often uninformed about vocational education as it has not been part of their personal experience. Instead, they may reflect and further embed the relatively low standing of that option. The lack of…

As smartphones are emerging as a common device for adolescent, prior studies have provided theoretical and empirical evidence for the factors affecting adolescent smartphone use. However, mainstream research has tended to focus on the negative effects of smartphone. Even though smartphone use can have adverse outcomes, it may also allow students…

Although women dominate the field of education as teachers, there remains a distinct lack of representation of women in school leadership, particularly in the role of secondary school principalships (Taie & Goldring, 2019). Prior research related to this phenomenon has centered on the barriers to entry, both external and internal, that inhibit…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the understanding of possible reasons for a large gender gap in the number of men and women serving as PK-12 public school district superintendents in Iowa in 2022-2023. This study provided information on the career path experiences of female superintendents compared to male superintendents…

Following Bourdieu's classic work on habitus and field, scholars use habitus fit/misfit to distinguish students' college experience but how students' experiences habitus misfit and transformation in relation to their career preparation process remains understudied. This study conducted longitudinal in-depth interviews with 32 students at an elite…