Work-Based Learning in Pennsylvania: Describing Issues of Equity, Geographic Access, and Participation in Career Clusters

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 1:15 pm
  In Roundtable Session: College and Career Readiness (Table 1)

Abstract

The current study utilized data from Pennsylvania’s (PA) statewide longitudinal data system to describe work-based learning (WBL) trends in PA secondary schools. First, two cohorts of secondary CTE students from the graduating classes of 2019 (N = 22,412) and 2020 (N = 22,501) were descriptively analyzed to explore rates of participation in WBL opportunities. Second, results investigated whether WBL opportunities were more likely to be taken by students in certain career pathways/clusters than others. Finally, students from both cohorts were aggregated to the level of their local education agency (LEA) and region to identify geographical differences in WBL participation across the state. Issues of equity in WBL participation and geographical access are discussed.

Authors

• Rosemary Riccardo, Lancaster Lebanon IU13

• Brian Hutchison, Lancaster Lebanon IU13