Initial Impact of Pathway Programs on Behavioral Skills

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 39
  In Roundtable Session: Policies, Practices, and Programs That Promote College and Career Readiness

Abstract

This study investigated the initial impact of high school pathway programs, including STEM, Business, and Arts, on the progression and change of two higher-order behavioral skills (getting along with others and sustaining effort) for 379 high school students (298 pathway, 81 comparison) who were surveyed at two time periods during the fall semester. Results show that students’ behavioral skills did not change noticeably across the two measurement periods. Also, results show that students in STEM evidenced more effective behaviors than students in Arts and comparison groups, while students in Business evidenced more effective behaviors than students in the comparison group. Implications and future steps for expanding this (ongoing) longitudinal study will be discussed.

Authors

• Yi-Lung Kuo, Beijing Normal University - Hong Kong Baptist University United International College

• Daniel Elchert, The University of Iowa

• Saba Ali, University of Iowa

• Amy McLeod, Lowell High School

• Jason Way, ACT, Inc.

• Alex Casillas, ACT, Inc.