Introduction

This study was initiated in 2003 to extend and deepen research activities associated with the Sharing What Works Project. Two secondary/postsecondary partnerships were selected as representative of high quality CTE transition programs for in-depth evaluation, with a focus on student outcomes, specifically the transition from high school to college within a career pathway. The selected sites are in Ft. Myers, Florida and Pierce County, Washington state, and they prepare students in health occupations and information technology, respectively. This project is funded by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education of the USDOE, through grants to the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education and the National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education, and is conducted in collaboration with the Academy for Educational Development, Washington DC.

Goals

This project seeks to answer the following research questions:

1. Within high schools that are strongly engaged in exemplary transition programs, do participants and non-participants differ in academic achievement, engagement, and transition to college?
   
2. What are the differences in academic achievement, engagement, and transition to college between participants and non-participants at strongly engaged high schools and at high schools that are not strongly engaged?
   
3. How are particular practices implemented and how do they relate to student transition behavior and outcomes?
4. How do postsecondary students who graduated from these high schools perform in college and in employment?

Activities

Project staff is undertaking a mixed-method evaluation. Case studies are being conducted to describe the programs at the secondary and postsecondary levels, exploring how educators, students and other key stakeholders relate key practices to student outcomes. In addition, high school and college transcripts and records are being analyzed for all students included in the study. Further, high school students' knowledge and skills is being assessed using WorkKeys. Telephone interviews will be conducted with all students during fall 2004 and possibly again during winter/spring 2005 so as to establish further education and employment experiences and outcomes.

Anticipative Products

  Annotated bibliography
  Case study protocols useful in documenting relationships between high school-to-
    college transition programs and practices and student outcomes
  Qualitative case study reports on implementation practices and student outcomes
  Quantitative technical reports on student outcomes and impact

Participating Staff: Debra D. Bragg, Jane Loeb