Purpose: This study aims to explore the experiences of newly resettled refugee-background high school students participating in the Teen Response program, a community-based initiative to assist refugee-background adolescents (RBAs) in navigating educational and career opportunities in the midwestern USA. Design/methodology/approach: Using a…

Research has consistently revealed that adolescents with a migration background are more likely to drop out from vocational education and training (VET) at the upper-secondary level than their native peers. While recent research has provided rich empirical evidence of mechanisms leading to dropouts from VET, little is known about such mechanisms…

This dissertation explores the integration of work-study programs, mentorship, and support systems at Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School (CRTSHS) and their role in preparing underrepresented students for post-secondary education and professional careers. Utilizing a case study methodology, this research centers on an in-depth analysis of a…

A popular alternative disciplinary framework from zero-tolerance school policies is restorative justice, which refers to a set of ideologies and practices that emphasize healing relationships in lieu of community exclusion. This work investigates the differences between ideological support for restorative approaches compared to program…

Purpose: This paper explores teacher perceptions of agriculture and the subsequent influence of these perceptions on student career pursual in the sector. Design/methodology/approach: This quantitative study used a post-workshop survey to evaluate 185 Technology Mandatory teachers' knowledge, experience and perceptions of the agricultural sector.…

Over the last two decades, dual credit programs have emerged as viable pathways to postsecondary completion. Despite their potential, these programs remain largely untapped by high school students and their families who experience historical and ongoing educational injustices. This study explores the racialized organizational dynamics at a rural…

This is the executive summary of the report, "How States and Systems Can Support Practitioner Efforts to Strengthen Dual Enrollment." The benefits of participating in one of these programs have been well documented, but so too have the gaps in been well documented, but so too have the gaps in participation among Black and Hispanic…

The intersecting issues that this study addresses are the lack of engagement in civic opportunities for underserved youth and the environmental injustices that disproportionately impact marginalized populations. To address these issues, the purpose of this youth participatory action research (YPAR) investigated how a high school science teacher…

The "Lau v. Nichols" Supreme Court case specifies two core responsibilities of schools -- and rights for students -- with regard to students classified as English learners (ELs): 1) opportunities to learn English; and 2) equitable access to grade-level content. Yet 50 years since "Lau's" passage, students' right to content may…

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) continues its five-year grant, "An Equitable Pathway to In-Demand STEM Careers," that began in Fall 2021 to facilitate Hispanic students' degree completion and career preparation in STEM fields. In the second year, the grant team has made satisfactory progress in offering summer and winter…

Because housing instability can make it difficult for students to attend school, students experiencing homelessness (SEH) may become chronically absent. For this reason, SEH have lower graduation rates than their housed counterpants. Germany's second-chance schools give students an opportunity to catch up on their learning so they can take final…

The school master schedule is a structure that, when intentionally designed, can promote student access to opportunities. However, complex factors often promote the schedule as a technical process instead of one that is vital to school improvement and equity work. As student needs change, fostering leadership capacity in understanding the…

Vocational educational opportunities have influenced the focus of CTE and made the needs of secondary classrooms change course. One of America's most significant problems is that it can no longer say it has the most educated and technologically savvy workforce globally. Students come from other countries, enroll in American schools, and return to…

Do children with better reading competence read more, or do avid readers increase their reading competence? This highly relevant question has been discussed for many years, yet conclusive results are rare. Previous studies suffer from small sample sizes or omitted variable bias, rendering their findings questionable. We provide new insight using…

In an effort to prepare American high school students for future careers, many states have implemented specific career readiness standards and programs. One such program is known as Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO), which are hands-on, credit-bearing experiences outside of the classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration.…