Workforce Policy
NEW ISSUE BRIEF: New Research Calls for Improved CTE Pathways Data Systems for Equity
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) together published new research, “Equity at the Center: How Federal Policymakers Can Support Diverse Student Populations in CTE Pathways Through High-Quality Data.” The brief explains how improving data collection on Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways can help standardize goals and metrics, maximize employment, and minimize inequities for learners and workers who too often get left behind.
CTE pathways have a large network of actors including the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education, and their state counterparts, kindergarten-to-12th grade schools and school systems, colleges, and other postsecondary providers, employers, intermediaries, and associations. These actors facilitate courses and programs that provide the skills required for specific jobs. High-quality education and career pathways prepare learners for high-demand, higher-wage careers. Unfortunately, current CTE pathways often uphold the historic practice of tracking students of color into programs that lead to low-wage positions in the U.S. labor market.
The following recommendations provide essential steps for improving data collection in CTE pathways systems, aimed at creating an inclusive and effective education and workforce ecosystem. Organized into two guiding pillars for federal policymakers, the first focuses on centering equity in data systems’ interoperability, and the second on supporting unique student populations.
Recommendations for Centering Equity in Data Systems’ Interoperability
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Leverage Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems to break down silos among the K-12 education, CTE, higher education, and workforce sectors
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Implement common data standards, codes, and crosswalks
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Connect states and regions
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Encourage cross-agency and cross-state collaborations
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Incentivize meaningful collection, reporting, and analysis on equity gaps
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Encourage disaggregation of racial and ethnic groups and subgroups, traditionally underserved groups, and non-traditional students
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Offer technical assistance to help states improve their data collection and analysis practices
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Using data analyses to identify next steps and take action
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Highlight student supports and interventions that directly target barriers to entry or access
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Call out occupational segregation and employment trends
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Regularly evaluate for continuous improvement
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Recommendations for Supporting Unique Student Populations
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Disaggregate data by race and ethnicity, English learner status, language proficiency, and other relevant variables to better understand the needs and experiences of underserved students
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Disaggregate race and ethnicity data at the point of collection
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Implement confidentiality protections for undocumented and immigrant students
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Offer anonymous reporting options for students to voluntarily self-identify immigration status without disclosing personal information
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Ensure compliance with federal and state privacy laws
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Recognize the unique challenges and traumas experienced by undocumented and immigrant students
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Design culturally and linguistically responsive data collection
Read the brief here.
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