CTE Research Network 2.0

The CTE Research Network (CTERN) 2.0 is building off the original 1.0 network to foster a learning community of CTE researchers and move the CTE field forward by conducting and expanding the use of rigorous research focused on CTE. ACTE is a Network Lead along with the American Institutes for Research; Boston College; and the Career and Technical Education Policy Exchange at Georgia Policy Labs, Georgia State University.

In CTERN 2.0, six research teams are conducting their own exploratory and impact studies of CTE in school districts around the country.

Findings

Among the Network 1.0 resources is a meta-analysis of 20 years of CTE research that found that CTE has statistically significant positive impacts on several high school outcomes, such as students’ academic achievement, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness.

Compared to similar students who do not take CTE, those who do are more likely to enroll in 2-year colleges and are equally likely to enroll in 4-year college or progress in college. The studies did not provide evidence regarding college degree completion and did not find impacts on student discipline or attendance.

Those who take CTE courses in high school are also more likely than those who did not take CTE courses to be employed after high school. CTE course-takers had similar earnings as those who did not take CTE.

Other CTERN Resources

Practitioner Training Modules: These free modules help CTE professionals improve their ability to access, interpret, and apply CTE data and research.

Resource Library: This online library includes CTERN research studies and other reports, publications and tools relevant to CTE.

Newsletter: Subscribe to get the latest Network updates.