Bridges to the Future: College and Career Readiness and the Self-Efficacy of Underserved Adolescents

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:20 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Supporting Development Across the Lifespan (Table 5)

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Paths to the Future for All (P2F4A) curriculum, a college and career readiness intervention designed to bolster underserved youth's academic and professional preparedness. A pre-post design was utilized over two implementation years, 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2022 (post-pandemic), analyzing data to examine shifts in students' self-efficacy, academic motivation, and career knowledge. Results demonstrate statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy, particularly regarding students' confidence in navigating academic challenges. Notably, the 2022 cohort exhibited a more pronounced increase than their 2019 counterparts, suggesting the P2F4A curriculum's potential to enhance resilience during periods of educational disruption. This study underscores the role of interventions like P2F4A in equipping underserved youth with essential skills to achieve academic and career success.

Authors

• Shahin Pamatmat, University of California - Davis

• Lauren Lindstrom, University of California - Davis

• Jeff M. Gau, Oregon Research Institute

• Kevin A. Gee, University of California - Davis

• John Lind, University of Oregon