The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is focused on transforming Arkansas to lead the nation in student-focused education. To accomplish this vision, one of ADE's goals is for each student to meet or exceed milestones along pathways to graduate high school prepared for college, career, and community engagement. Some career and technical…

The Vermont Linking Learning to Careers (LLC) program is a five-year statewide initiative designed by Vermont's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). The program, which began enrolling students in July 2017, is intended to improve the employment and postsecondary educational outcomes of high school students who have disabilities. LLC uses a…

This study highlights the importance of clear communication in fostering career readiness. Students exhibit higher motivation on achievement tests when they understand the value of an assessment and are able to familiarize themselves with the exam prior to testing. Increased communication regarding the work requirements of local employers can…

Within the city, nearly 5,000 16- to 24-year-olds are not in school or employed. Most of these young people have already earned a high school diploma, but struggle to connect with employment opportunities outside of unstable, low-paying jobs with limited opportunities for advancement. This group, known as Opportunity Youth (OY), represents…

For too many young people, the transition from high school to college or a career poses significant challenges. In Boston alone, nearly 5,000 16- to 24-year-olds are not in school or employed. This group, known as Opportunity Youth, represents incredible untapped promise and potential. Our latest report takes an in-depth look at what career…

Over the past 15 months, the Virginia Board of Education has been redesigning its public school students' high school educational experience to better prepare them to participate in the global economy. To lay the groundwork for this redesign, the Profile of a Graduate was developed. The profile in turn grew out of a broader review of Virginia's…

In December of 2004, the reauthorization of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) was signed into law and went into effect on July 1, 2005, making dramatic changes in the area of transition from school to post-secondary life. The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education created recommendations that influenced the new…

Reforms funded by the School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) were enacted to help USA students learn career-related skills and prepare for entry into careers or post-secondary education. Information about the effectiveness of these reforms is critical to address students' career preparation needs and inform future policy. Yet few quantitative…