Benjamin Dalton

In order to strengthen the ability of career and technical education (CTE) to help students navigate the complex transition from school to work, the field needs systematic and rigorous research to identify promising middle and high school career development opportunities (CDOs) and evaluate their impact on student outcomes. In this project, the researchers will study CDOs in New Castle County in metropolitan Wilmington, Delaware, a racially and ethnically diverse locality in a state that has...

In this initial efficacy study, the researchers will examine the career and technical education (CTE) credentialing program for high school students in the state of Pennsylvania (PA). PA requires all graduating CTE students to take a technical assessment that can lead to a CTE credential. This study has three aims, each with an associated study: (1) enhance the field's understanding of how teachers, students, administrators, and local employers view and use CTE credentials (implementation st...

This exploratory project focused on industry certifications earned by high school students with support from the state of Florida. The study had two aims: (1) to identify which high school practices and labor demand factors are associated with higher rates of earning certifications and (2) to test whether obtaining a certification is associated with increased rates of on-time high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, and degree attainment.