The Association Between Secondary School Career and Technical Education and Employment of Individuals With Disabilities

• In Event: Career and Technical Education SIG Roundtable Session

Abstract

The employment rate of students with disabilities remains low, compared to those with students without disabilities. Prior research suggests that high school training and transition programs, often referred to as Career and Technical Education (CTE), is a cost-effective way to increase employment of students with disabilities. If students can learn job skills during high school, both students and companies can save time and money for training in workplace. This paper reports a meta-analysis of studies of secondary job training education and transition programs for high school students with disabilities and identifies the factors that support the effects of secondary transition program on students’ employment. All seven studies reported a positive and moderate association between CTE and postsecondary employment.

Authors

• Yeji Kim, University of Texas at Austin

• North Cooc, The University of Texas at Austin