School Track and Student Noncognitive Skill Development

• In Event: 35.050 - Advancing Career and Technical Education (CTE) Research: Who Is Served by CTE and How Does CTE Serve Them?

Abstract

By applying quasi-experimental methods (sparse optimal matching and DID), this study investigates whether attending technical/vocational high schools (vs. general high schools) leads to different non-cognitive skill developmental trajectories. Contrary to the popular belief that school plays a neutral role in student non-cognitive skill development, we found significant positive impacts of technical/vocational schools on student non-cognitive skills. Interestingly, the mediating role of school curriculum was found to be trivial.

Authors

• Baeksan Yu, University of Pittsburgh

• Sean P. Kelly, University of Pittsburgh