In 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded $107 million in four-year grants to 24 applicants for the Youth CareerConnect (YCC) program, a high school-based program that blended academic and career-focused learning to better prepare students for both college and careers in high-growth industries that often rely on foreign workers. The…

The Committee on Education and Labor met to hear testimony on "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the United States Department of Education." The U.S. Department of Education was making a budget request for Fiscal Year 2022 and the Committee wanted to examine the Department's priorities to support students, educators, and…

This qualitative study sought to investigate the factors that impact the persistence of African American male PhD scientists and engineers in their STEM career trajectories. The lived experiences of African American male PhD scientists and engineers were examined from the mens' perspectives. Critical Race Theory (CRT) is powerful theoretical,…

This brief summarizes findings from implementation, impact, and cost-benefit evaluations of Accelerating Opportunity (AO). AO is a career pathways initiative launched in 2011 that aims to help adults with low basic skills earn valued occupational credentials, obtain well-paying jobs, and sustain rewarding careers. AO was one of the first efforts…

This report summaries the Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) appraisal scores and teachers' perceptions of the appraisal system. The PPfT appraisal system was developed and refined during the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years. The 2016-2017 school the appraisal system was implemented district-wide. The 2016-2017 appraisal scores will…

This capstone examines the National Center on Education and the Economy's (NCEE) efforts in its initial planning stage to lead the design of and build support for a proposed national system of teacher career ladders. In this career ladder system, teachers can voluntarily seek advanced certification leading up to the role of Master Teacher, and…

This publication describes Baltimore's Model Pathway, the process for becoming a Model Teacher, and lessons the LEA learned from working with teachers and the Baltimore Teacher's Union to negotiate their new differentiated career pathways and compensation.

This report presents the findings of the cost-benefit analysis of Accelerating Opportunity, an initiative designed to help adults with low basic skills earn industry-recognized credentials in high-growth occupations and succeed in the labor market. It compares the value of the benefits associated with AO--principally labor market benefits--with…

This is a research brief of the full report (published separately). The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student Survey, administered in Spring 2017, was designed to gather students' feedback about their experiences taking the advanced CTE courses offered in their specific career pathway. Students who participated in the Austin Independent…

Oakland Unified School District's (OUSD's) career academies and pathways are the foundation of its work-based learning strategy, known as Linked Learning. This instructional approach provides students with the resources and skills necessary to succeed in college, career, and life. This policy brief discusses how communication between OUSD teachers…

This report provides a summary of highlights of the 15th annual AISD High School Exit Survey administered online to seniors in every AISD high school during May 2017.

Educator Excellence Innovation Program (EEIP) is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) grant program that funds innovation in teacher supports and leadership opportunities. This report describes feedback from teachers at the six EEIP schools and summarizes implementation in the third year of the program.

Each year, Austin Independent School District Department of Research and Evaluation (DRE) staff develop a plan of work to describe the scope of work for the coming year. The plans that make up this document identify programs to be evaluated and services to be provided by DRE staff and provide the blueprints for evaluation that staff will follow…

This full report (a brief summary report also was published separately) describes results from the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student Survey, administered in Spring 2017 in AISD. The survey was designed to gather students' feedback about their experiences taking the advanced CTE courses offered in their specific career pathway. Students…

A long-term goal of STEM Pathways is to increase student achievement in STEM subjects, especially among underrepresented groups such as those with low incomes, racial/ethnic minorities, and females. To take an initial look at the achievement of STEM Pathways students after the first year of program implementation, the author examined results in…