Youth CareerConnect: Preparing High School Students for College and Career Research Brief
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About the Brief
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded $107 million in four-year grants to 24 applicants for the Youth CareerConnect (YCC) program. At its core, the YCC program was designed to strengthen America’s talent pipeline by putting high school students on a pathway to complete postsecondary education, obtain industry-recognized credentials, and secure a job in middle- to high-skilled fields that often rely on foreign workers. The program included employer partnerships and engagement, integrated academic and career curricula, work-based learning and exposure to the world of work, individualized career and academic counseling, small learning communities, and professional development. The brief summarizes how the YCC program was implemented and the impact it had on students while they were still in high school.
Key Takeaways
- The YCC program offered services and activities that differed from other high school career–focused programs, but required partnerships and staff time.
- The YCC program had small positive impacts on school attendance, credit accumulation, and proficiency in English language arts.
- The short-term impact of the YCC program might have varied by program experiences and maturation of the program, but not by key student characteristics.
- The YCC program did not affect high school graduation and other measures such as high school behaviors, postsecondary preparation, and employment readiness among early cohorts.
Citation
Maxwell, N., Dillon, E. (2019). Mathematica. Research Brief: Preparing high school students for college and career: Evidence from Youth CareerConnect. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.