Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, school students suffered from a reduction in opportunities to connect with higher education institutions, meet scientific role models in person, discuss scientific career options, and carry out hands-on practical laboratory activities. Current Chemistry Investigators (CCI) is a successful…

The 2023 Illinois Career and Technical Education Report is submitted in compliance with Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 435/2e, which requires a written career and technical education (CTE) report to be issued to the governor annually. This report describes the establishment of and delivery of CTE in Illinois, the existing condition of Illinois CTE…

This article introduces "dual enrollment equity pathways" (DEEP)--a research-based framework for rethinking à la carte dual enrollment as a more equitable on-ramp to college programs of study that lead to high-opportunity careers for students historically underserved in dual enrollment. Using interview data collected from six sites (six…

Multidimensional forced-choice (MFC) items have been found to be useful to reduce response biases in personality assessments. However, conventional scoring methods for the MFC items result in ipsative data, hindering the wider applications of the MFC format. In the last decade, a number of item response theory (IRT) models have been developed,…

Effective career decision-making outcomes may depend on the type of motivation underlying career development. The purpose of this study was to analyze how autonomous and controlled motivation predict exploration behaviors and career indecision and in which degree the effect of motivation on indecision is mediated by career exploration…

Based on the life history perspective, this study tested a serial mediation model in which family socioeconomic status (SES) related to person-job fit via resource scarcity, career exploration, and goal persistence. We expected that when seeking employment, higher SES students would perceive lower resource scarcity, and, in turn, adopt more…

Although life satisfaction is critical for adolescents' emotional, social, and educational functioning and positive development, social cognitive roles in adolescents' life satisfaction and potential underlying processes are less known. The present study aimed to explore the effect of implicit theories of intelligence on adolescent life…

This study presents a systematic literature review about career interventions for university students exploring: (1) which theoretical framework; (2) structure; (3) evaluation system; and (4) outcomes are reported. Fourteen keywords, five databases, and six eligibility criteria were defined. Among the 596 articles collected, 26 remained for…

To help all students and jobseekers better navigate the rapidly changing job market and make informed choices about their educational and career paths, the United States must make systemic reforms and strategic investments in career services and navigational supports. Drawing on the insights of leading practitioners from education and workforce…

The 3Ds Career Planning Program is a sequential learning activity consisting of three stages: Diagnosing (8 activities), Designing (9 activities), and Doing (2 activities). These stages help students determine their future careers by exploring themselves and the world of careers, creating paths to desired jobs, and putting their plans into action.…

Families and community members are challenging secondary schools to improve career readiness preparation. Family and consumer sciences (FCS) educators can be instrumental in helping students prepare effectively for a career with school-to-work transitions through work-based learning (WBL). This article presents the implementation of a 2-day FCS…

Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs) help connect youth to opportunities for career exploration, skill development, and mentorship. Despite heightened investment in SYEPs, research regarding positive impacts is limited. Most of the common SYEP evaluation strategies are rooted in deficit thinking and focus on outcomes such as reducing violent…

This 2-year pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of a job coaching application (i.e., Job Coaching on Demand) on the knowledge and competencies of teachers and job coaches that work with young adults with developmental disabilities. Due to the global pandemic, this research was conducted virtually over a 2-year period. During the first…

This qualitative case study utilizes the human capital theory to examine the influence of high impact career exploration and career-focused practices in a public, regional four-year institution. Literature shows that graduates who enter well-matched careers earn approximately 30 percent more than graduates who are not closely matched. In addition,…

Most approaches to vocational exploration present challenges to people who have more than one central cultural identity. In this article, we begin with a framework for understanding hybrid cultural identity focused on the real-life experiences of hybrid people. We then identify three predominant approaches to vocation as well as the challenges…