About Career Technical Education
Career Technical Education (CTE) aims to prepare students for a wide variety of careers in an evolving job market. With encouragement from the federal government, a growing number of states and school districts have recently focused on reforming their CTE systems. Four states in particular—Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York—have been leaders in providing CTE coursework and learning experiences aligned with increased academic standards.
As home to one of the largest and most diverse systems of urban CTE programs in the country, New York City serves as a unique laboratory for learning about CTE innovation. There are more than 300 CTE programs in New York City, offered in 135 of the City’s nearly 400 high schools. These programs cover a wide range of careers, including those in law and public safety, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, marketing and human services.
Approximately 20,000 students are assigned to one of NYC's CTE programs each year. These students must meet the same academic standards and pass the same demanding high school exit exams that other students must pass, while also participating in mandated “work-based learning” and technical assessments of the occupational skills that they acquire in high school. Students who complete a State-approved CTE program of study can receive a CTE-endorsed Regents diploma.
About Our Study
The Research Alliance is conducting several related studies of the implementation and impact of New York City’s CTE programs. Conducted in collaboration with MDRC and the University of Connecticut, this work will examine the causal impact of NYC’s CTE programs on students’ career and work-related learning experiences, social and behavioral competencies, high school graduation, and transitions to college and the labor market.
The studies will focus on students who enrolled in a CTE program as a first-time 9th grader between 2007 and 2017. Researchers will conduct in-depth interviews with CTE program directors to develop an understanding of program characteristics and implementation strategies. Surveys and administrative records will be used to examine students’ exposure to CTE-program components; achievement and social competencies during high school; diploma receipt; and post-secondary education and employment outcomes. Using a naturally occurring randomized control trial (RCT) design that results from the NYC high school admissions process, our work will rigorously assess CTE impacts on students’ experiences and outcomes. Because not all CTE programs admit students through a lottery-like process, we will also use statistical methods to compare the outcomes of a larger sample of CTE programs to a matched group of high schools serving similar students. Importantly, we will examine variation across the City’s diverse CTE offerings to identify program features that are associated with stronger impacts. We expect these findings to produce valuable lessons and insights for the NYC Department of Education, as well as other schools districts around the country that are implementing and developing CTE programs.
This work is being conducted in partnership with the NYCDOE's Office of Career and Technical Education, with funding from the Institute of Education Sciences (Grant #R305A170498) and Arnold Ventures.
Related Publications
The Research Alliance for New York City Schools
Career and Technical Education in Comprehensive High Schools
The second in our series on Career and Technical Education in New York City, this report focuses on 51 Comprehensive high schools that offer CTE alongside other educational options.
The Research Alliance for New York City Schools
NYC as a Laboratory for Learning About Career and Technical Education
This report is one of several that will emerge from our ongoing study aimed at informing local and national CTE policy and practice. It focuses on 37 CTE-Dedicated high schools, which are structured to ensure that all enrolled students participate in a CTE Program of Study from 9th through 12th grade.
The Research Alliance for New York City Schools
Who Chooses Career and Technical Education in NYC?
While CTE has been the focus of increased attention and investment in recent years, we know relatively little about student “demand” for CTE. Which students are interested in and applying to CTE programs? And how are these students different (if at all) from those who prefer more traditional high school options?
The Research Alliance for New York City Schools
How Has the Supply of Career and Technical Education Changed Over Time in NYC?
This Spotlight post describes the landscape of CTE programs in NYC during the last decade—including the number of programs being offered, the proportion of programs in CTE-dedicated versus traditional academic high schools, and the representation of various career themes.
The Research Alliance for New York City Schools
High School Advising
In a landscape where college and career readiness is paramount, this new report delves into NYC high school students' experiences with school-based advising for postsecondary transitions. The findings highlight differences across students and schools, including the presence of stronger career-oriented support in schools with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
