This issue focuses on contextual learning (CL), in which students master rigorous academic content in real-world or work-based learning experiences. "Emerging Trends in CL Show Positive Results for Students" discusses CL as an important strategy for improving student achievement. It describes: how CL raises the bar for all students,…

A study empirically examined a high school career academy's influence on entrance into, route through, and outcomes upon exiting a four-year comprehensive, urban university in California. Data are drawn from applicant and student records for all students coming from a single high school district that has a strong career academy program. Findings…

School choice has become a widespread policy for improving education. Because the goal of choice is to provide high-quality education to all students, we examined student perceptions in applying to and attending four high schools that are successful in educating low-income students and students of color. Students chose schools based on perceived…

Career and technical education (CTE) in Pennsylvania faces a dual challenge. CTE programs must prepare students for careers in the 21st century and the new knowledge economy. Simultaneously, CTE must meet or exceed academic expectations and standards required of all students. This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of Jobs for…

Job training is a powerful tool for growth, but only if embedded in a climate of pro-growth policies that it complements. To attract capital to create growth and jobs, a country has to offer favorable supply side conditions. A skilled labor force is one of several important supply side categories, whose growth effects are strongest when the other…

Career academies are high school programs that frame academic learning around a career focus in order to increase student motivation and achievement. They generally have three defining features: a school-within-a-school structure, a college preparation curriculum with a career theme, and partnerships with employers, the community, and higher…

An alternative curriculum program, a School-to-Work Transition Academy, has the potential to assist secondary special education students in developing workplace skills, knowledge, and competencies. Major elements are as follows: a collaborative team of special, regular, and career/technology teachers; advisory committee; transition-specific,…

Career development theories do not typically highlight their relevance to the school-to-work transition process. This issue features articles that examine how several prominent career development theories (person-environment fit, social learning, developmental, and social cognitive) can be brought to bear on this process. Three discussants assess…

Discusses contributions of Krumboltz & Worthington, 1999; Lent, Hacket, & Brown, 1999; Savickas, 1999; Swanson & Fouad, 1999 to the application of career development theories to the school-to-work transition. Concludes with recommendation that theory-building efforts derived from the individual experience of work-bound youth should be included in…

This report studies career academies to explore students' and teachers' experiences and to contrast them with those of their peers in regular high school environments. Data are from questionnaires, interviews, and observations of Academy and non-Academy students (835 and 686 respectively) and teachers (65 and 403 respectively). Chapter 2 describes…

This study analyzes urban youths' career decision-making in a career and technical education program that provided work-based learning experiences and a pathway linking high school, community college, and work in biotechnology laboratories. The program provided work experiences not generally available to adolescents, and enabled students…

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) Career Academy was initiated at Worthing High School (WHS) in the Houston (Texas) Independent School District at the beginning of the 1994-95 school year. The career-oriented program operated as a "school-within-a-school" program and was designed to meet the needs of students at risk of…

More employers have mobilized to support career academies. They say that in addition to improving student engagement in school, academies help to strengthen relationships among business leaders, educators, and civic leaders; prevent high risk students from dropping out; and expand their pipeline of qualified workers. Academic research has helped…

The relative impact of career academies on postsecondary educational attainment and knowledge and skills acquired in urban public high schools was examined through an analysis of single-district and national databases. The national data were obtained from the first and third follow-up surveys of the National Education Longitudinal Study. Compared…

In this paper the authors illustrate the use of a strict standard for evaluating evidence on programs and strategies designed to improve outcomes for high school students. They explain what they mean by solid evidence, and present examples from multi-site evaluations of three programs. After that they examine some of the evidence on high school…