Research and Analytics

This paper argues for a radical restructuring of education for grades 11–14—by erasing the arbitrary dividing line between high school and college—to open opportunities for the learners our current systems leave behind. We make the case for an entirely new type of institution—neither high school nor college—designed specifically to better meet the needs of young people after 10th grade and help prepare them to succeed in the world of work.

Dual enrollment is a powerful mechanism to support college readiness and success for high school students across the country. Rural schools provide unique advantages but face distinct challenges in creating effective dual enrollment opportunities for students. This case study examines how three rural schools in Texas addressed three challenges rural schools face: overcoming distance to higher education partners, supporting students in navigating the college environment, and building staff capacity to support dual enrollment.

More than half a million people are released from U.S. prisons each year, and the majority are unable to find work due to underlying biases and systemic racism. This report argues that we must match the breadth and scale of the investments that support U.S. systems of incarceration by investing in a comprehensive and scalable approach to workforce development that connects returning citizens with jobs and equips them for long-term careers.

This report is a national landscape analysis of secondary-level, skilled trades education. We analyzed data from 37 states to understand what trades education programs are offered, who participates in them, and what outcomes students experience. We also reviewed promising practices and challenges to the field and made recommendations to stakeholders in education, workforce, and industry for improving access to quality trades programs.

The bilingual GOAL training program provides opportunities for English Language Learners to progress in advanced manufacturing careers.

This report examines community feedback to shed light on the impact technical assistance (TA) has on place-based programs for people in disadvantaged communities. Focusing on how TA can shape practices, expand stakeholder knowledge, and enhance stakeholder networks, it offers guidelines for future TA investments.

This series summarizes the Accelerating CTE project at four participating colleges. It provides details on student outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for further inquiry to improve student success and meet the workforce needs of our economy.

This report is about combining the best evidence, practices, and policies to drive a broader systems reform agenda for what works for adult learners, and trying to improve the persistently low rates at which adults transition into postsecondary credentials and better jobs. It’s about finding scalable solutions to help the millions of adult learners who need pathways to economic opportunity.