Soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution have often been on the back burner of education reform. Common Core standards were introduced as a method of bridging the gap between academic skills and soft skills through fostering creativity and collaboration. It has been shown that soft skills are not necessarily…

Recent updates to federal policy governing career and technical education (CTE) in the United States have emphasised the need to include work-based learning (WBL) experiences as central components of CTE programming. Many of these experiences showcase an informal learning component which has strong ties to early career success as suggested by the…

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…

This article discusses mentorship provided to Indigenous Australian secondary school leavers. The authors suggest that, although current scholarship in the field is insightful, there is a dearth of material focusing on mentorship provided during the post-secondary school transitional phase. Also, much literature problematises Indigenous mentees…

The future outlook for STEM jobs in the U.S. is projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to have a 10.5% increase from 2020 to 2030, with 11.3 million STEM jobs projected in the U.S. by 2030. During the same time interval the projected rate of increase of STEM jobs is higher (at 10.5%) compared to non-STEM jobs (at 7.5%). Engineering,…

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how three school-based mentoring programs are preparing African American male youth for post- graduation, college, and careers. The influence of mentoring experiences and mentoring relationships are addressed in order to uncover the influence of racial matching on the mentoring relationship.…

Postsecondary readiness is critical to broadening opportunities for educational and career options beyond high school. However, Black males are often at a disadvantage to gaining access to postsecondary preparation and school counselors who can respond to their academic needs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and…

Built for More, The Role of OST in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work will highlight OST research and illustrative practices and bring forward multi-disciplinary perspectives about future trends, innovations, and the impact of OST on the future workforce. The focus is on OST programs as well as related activities that contribute to…

In 2020-2021, APIE aimed to align programs and resources to help AISD students navigate the new educational landscape brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures. While APIE's goals continued to focus on supporting ECHS students in acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to enroll, persist, and succeed in postsecondary education,…

This study solicited perspectives of underserved youth and educators who serve them regarding college and career readiness. We defined underserved youth as adolescents who experience inequitable access to educational resources. Purposeful sampling was used to select 84 focus group participants including educators and students (9-12th grade).…

Black students experience a unique form of pervasive trauma based on their racial identity. Discrimination--a social determinant of health (Social determinants of health)--results in racial trauma that negatively affects students' college and career outcomes, such as career adaptability, career thoughts, career decision making, and postsecondary…

Despite greater emphasis on college and career readiness in PK-12 education, gifted Black males with disabilities still encounter various barriers in making successful transitions to postsecondary educational opportunities. These barriers include negative educational experiences, deficit ideologies, and limited opportunities for positive identity…

The Common Core State Standards were designed to prepare all students for college and careers. Using theories of cultural capital and culturally relevant pedagogy, this study of 54 college-bound, inner-city high school seniors seeks to determine how students perceive their college readiness during the implementation of the new standards. While the…

The transition from high school to college is challenging under normal circumstances. But this year--with students ending high school remotely and potentially starting college virtually--this transition may seem nearly impossible for too many students. Young people will need to navigate complex systems of registration, enrollment, and financial…

In an effort to better prepare K-12 students for college and career readiness, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) has created a college and career readiness system that is implemented in schools across the United States and in many international locations. Part of this system of schoolwide transformation, is the AVID Elective class,…