Effectively Maintained Inequality: Understanding Texas High School Students' Endorsement Enrollments

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding the Effects of High School Programs and Policies on Student Academic and Socio-Emotional Outcomes

Abstract

To support youth early motivation for higher education and careers, the Texas Legislature in 2013 passed House Bill 5 to adopt a new foundation high school program, which allows students to pursue endorsements as they begin 9th grade. Endorsements prepare high-school students for specific science, business, public service, arts and humanities, and multidisciplinary career pathways. Although the effects of this new high-school graduation program may be fully understood once students graduate high school, preliminary research shows the extent to which students take advantage of endorsement opportunities and whether pathways chosen are differentiated by individual characteristics. The study is based on quantitative analysis of restricted Texas longitudinal administrative and transcripts data and is guided by the Effectively Maintained Inequality theoretical framework.

Authors

• Maria Adamuti-Trache, The University of Texas - Arlington

• Yi Leaf Zhang, University of Texas at Arlington