CCRL is distributing three new reports associated with research funded by the United States Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education’s National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NCCTE). These reports focus on national and state policies concerning youth and adult transition to community colleges and career and technical education (CTE) policy and program approval.

In May 2007, the NCCTE published a report, entitled “Career and Technical Education Pathway Programs, Academic Performance, and the Transition to College and Career.” This report, written by Natasha Lekes, Debra D. Bragg, Jane W. Loeb, Catherine A. Oleksiw, Jacob Marszalek, Margaret Brooks-Laraviere, Rongchun Zhu, Chloe C. Kremidas, Grace Akukwe, Hyeong-Jong Lee, and Lisa K. Hood, examines student transition to two selected community colleges offering CTE transition programs in association with K-12 school districts with multiple high schools. The report presents results in two parts, one examining secondary students and the other examining postsecondary students, with the postsecondary portion of the analysis giving attention to the impact of dual credit enrollment. The full report and accompanying research brief are available online.

In September 2007, NCCTE released “State Approval Policies and Procedures for Postsecondary CTE Programs.” This report, authored by Rodney J. Merkley and George H. Johnston examines state standards regarding state-level policies for postsecondary CTE programs. Specifically, the report examined state policies that: ensure consistency between occupational standards and CTE programs, respond to labor market needs, and offer articulation between secondary and postsecondary programs. The report includes suggestions for practice and policy implications. The full report and accompanying research brief are available online.

In October 2007, the NCCTE published a report, entitled “A Cross-Case Analysis of Career Pathway Programs that Link Low-Skilled Adults to Family-Sustaining Wage Careers.” This report, written by Debra D. Bragg, Christine D. Bremer, Marisa Castellano, Catherine Kirby, Ann Mavis, Donna Schaad, and Judith Sunderman, focuses on programs, policies, and practices implemented to support the transition of low-skilled adults through career pathways aligned with community colleges. The study presented demographic and educational characteristics of adult students in the career pathway programs, curriculum and instruction, and support services. The full report and accompanying research brief are available online.