About the Study

In 2014, the Chief Evaluation Office partnered with the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to manage an impact evaluation and complementary analysis of Youth CareerConnect and to develop a participant tracking system for the program. These evaluation activities were carried out by contractors Mathematica, and Social Policy Research Associates. The final impact report follows implementation study reports published in 2017 and 2019. The study included two methodological components: a quasi-experimental design analysis (QED) in 16 school districts and a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in four school districts that were also part of the QED.  

The goal of the Youth CareerConnect (YCC) program was to prepare high school students for both college and careers in high-demand industries with employers that often rely on H-1B visas to fill job vacancies. In 2014, ETA awarded 24 grants to a broad array of organizations across 18 states and Puerto Rico, including local education agencies, local workforce entities, a higher education institution, and other non-profit organizations. The high-school based program included a combination of academic and career-focused learning, rigorous college and career curricula, employer partnerships, work-based learning, and intensive counseling.

This Department of Labor-funded study was a result of the annual learning agenda process. It contributes to the growing labor evidence-base to inform employment and training programs and policies and addresses Department strategic goals and priorities.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.