New Evidence on High School Occupational Course Taking and Short-Term Postsecondary Outcomes

• In Event: Roundtable Session 47
  In Roundtable Session: Testing and Measuring Student Outcomes in Career and Technical Education

Abstract

Prior research has shown that high school occupational coursetaking—a measure of involvement in career and technical education (CTE)—may reduce the likelihood of attending college. However, existing literature typically includes a limited set of covariates and examines a narrow set of coursetaking measures. In this study, we use recent data on graduates from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 to examine the impact of total occupational credits, concentrated occupational credits, and occupational credits in specific areas on short-term (2-year) postsecondary outcomes. Using multinomial logistic regression that compares the relative likelihood of multiple postsecondary statuses, we find that overall occupational coursetaking has no influence on postsecondary status. However, credits earned in agriculture/industry courses increase graduates’ chances of being employed full-time.

Author

• Benjamin W. Dalton, RTI International