Exploring Approaches to Promoting Career Readiness: Studies Undertaken Through the California Enhanced Assessment Grant

• In Event: Developing Career Readiness Indicators: A Focus on Feature Analysis

Abstract

Objectives/Perspectives
The State has been focused on improving metrics to support and describe college and career readiness. In today’s global, knowledge-based economy, students need more than just basic skills to remain competitive in the workforce. The State is part of a consortium developing and implementing the Smarter Balanced assessment system with input from higher education partners. High school graduation rates in the state have been steadily increasing, yet many high school graduates still lack the adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in growing career fields. Roughly 8 in 10 students entering community college require at least one developmental course in math, English, or both (Mejia, Rodriguez, & Johnson, 2016).
Moreover, public education still remains largely unconnected to the workplace and success in 21st century careers. In a recent report, the Southern Regional Education Board (2015) stated, “Simply put, the bridge from high school to postsecondary attainment and career opportunities is broken” (p. 2). The Enhanced Assessment Grant (EAG) project is situated within this larger context, and is intended to contribute to repairing the bridge from high school to careers.
Our project represents a partnership between a State Department of Education and a University-based R&D Center, with a focus on both directly supporting our state’s current K-12 assessment initiatives while producing information, tools, and methodologies that will inform the work of the larger Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium of which the state is a member.

Modes of Inquiry
This partnership has offered opportunities that enable career readiness inferences from our existing testing programs. Drawing inferences from the existing assessment system adds value to the assessment, without adding testing time, and informs reporting and policies not only statewide, but across other states using Smarter Balanced assessments.

Evidence/Results
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of the Enhanced Assessment Grant in the context of policy and preparing students for career opportunities. This paper discusses how the Smarter Balanced assessment is used in conjunction with other measures as an indicator for how well prepared a high school graduate is for both college and the world of work.

Scholarly Significance
This paper discusses state initiatives in the context of other initiatives by [the State] to promote career readiness and 21st century skills, as well as how these efforts align with [the State’s] overall accountability system. This information will support the AERA theme of the Dreams, Possibilities, and Necessity of Public Education.

Author

• Eric E. Zilbert, California Department of Education