What Is Career Readiness? Comparing Predictors of Career and College Persistence

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Division L Section 8 Roundtable

Abstract

Recently, policies supporting readiness for college have shifted to Career and College Readiness. However, that Career and College should be a single readiness construct is a hypothesis requiring empirical research. We address this gap, investigating whether the same high school factors (e.g., grades, assessments, CTE) predict persistence in college and persistence in the workforce the first four years after graduation. We use a state longitudinal data system offering the ability to observe three cohorts of graduates from [Identifying District Name] progressing to both college and the workforce, as well as their high school data. We find differences in high school outcomes that predict college persistence relative to workforce persistence. We discuss the relative importance of different factors for each pathway.

Author

• Rachel E. Durham, Notre Dame of Maryland University