ERIC Number: ED671106
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jan
Pages: 47
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Curricular-Credential Decoupling: How Schools Respond to Career and Technical Education Policy. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1128
Matt Giani; Madison E. Andrews; Tasneem Sultana; Fortunato Medrano
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
This study examines College and Career Readiness (CCR) policy implementation through the lens of "decoupling." We investigate how high schools have jointly implemented Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs), and whether there is evidence of "curricular-credential decoupling" via misalignment between the subject-areas of students' CTE course and IBC completion. Descriptive analyses of Texas's statewide longitudinal dataset (n=2,119,750) demonstrate the rapid rise in certification rates with a concomitant decline in the rate of alignment to CTE, suggesting schools may be using IBCs as a superficial way to meet CCR policy requirements. Regression analyses show student characteristics minimally relate to IBC receipt and (mis)alignment, but schools explain substantial variation. We then develop a typology to categorize schools based on these school-level rates, which may be a useful tool for understanding CTE & IBC implementation across different state policy contexts. Finally, by comparing school characteristics across typology categories, we highlight factors that may contribute to misalignment and inform future policy.
Descriptors: Educational Policy, Credentials, High Schools, Data, Career and Technical Education, College Readiness, Career Readiness, Industry, Certification, Alignment (Education), State Policy, Curriculum, Data Analysis, Educational Legislation, Teaching Methods
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: P2CHD042849; T32HD007081
Author Affiliations: N/A