Kemple, James J. (2004). MDRC. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED484616
Reviewed: December 2022
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Reviewed: September 2015
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Please see the WWC summary of evidence for Career Academies.
Reviewed: February 2014
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
|
Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Currently enrolled in any postsecondary program |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.20 |
0.19 |
No |
-- | |
|
Currently working toward Associate's degree |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.06 |
0.05 |
No |
-- | |
|
Associate's degree |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.12 |
0.12 |
No |
-- | |
|
Currently working toward Bachelor's or graduate degree |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.08 |
0.08 |
No |
-- | |
|
Skills training certificate or license |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.22 |
0.21 |
No |
-- | |
|
Completed any postsecondary credential |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.50 |
0.50 |
No |
-- | |
|
Months enrolled in postsecondary education in years 1-4 |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
4 years post expected graduation |
Full sample;
|
21.00 |
21.20 |
No |
-- | |
|
Months enrolled in postsecondary education in years 5-8 |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
10.70 |
11.00 |
No |
-- | |
|
Currently working toward highest postsecondary credential |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.15 |
0.15 |
No |
-- | |
|
Bachelor's or graduate degree |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.16 |
0.18 |
No |
-- | |
|
Currently working toward skills training certificate or license |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.01 |
0.02 |
No |
-- |
|
Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Earned a GED |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.12 |
0.10 |
No |
-- | |
|
Earned a high school diploma |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.84 |
0.84 |
No |
-- |
|
Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ever employed full time |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
0.95 |
0.95 |
No |
-- | |
|
Months employed |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
38.50 |
37.60 |
No |
-- | |
|
Months employed full time |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
34.30 |
32.60 |
No |
-- | |
|
Average monthly earnings |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
2111.98 |
1895.77 |
No |
-- | |
|
Average hours worked per week |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
33.30 |
31.60 |
No |
-- | |
|
Average hourly wage |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
14.99 |
14.30 |
No |
-- | |
|
Total number of jobs held |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
2.00 |
2.10 |
No |
-- | |
|
Average job duration (in months) |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
25.60 |
23.60 |
No |
-- | |
|
Ever employed |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Years 5-8 after scheduled HS graduation |
Full sample;
|
0.97 |
0.98 |
No |
-- |
|
Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Earned 3 or more vocational credits |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
During high school (12th grade survey) |
Full sample;
|
0.70 |
0.47 |
Yes |
|
|
|
Basic Core Curriculum plus 3 vocational credits |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
During high school (12th grade survey) |
Full sample;
|
0.47 |
0.27 |
Yes |
|
|
|
Course Credits Meet Graduation Requirements |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
During high school (12th grade survey) |
Full sample;
|
0.66 |
0.59 |
No |
-- | |
|
Graduated on-time |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.75 |
0.73 |
No |
-- | |
|
Basic Core Curriculum completed |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
During high school (12th grade survey) |
Full sample;
|
0.66 |
0.64 |
No |
-- | |
|
Total course credits |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
During high school (12th grade survey) |
Full sample;
|
22.40 |
22.00 |
No |
-- | |
|
College-prep curriculum completed |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
During high school (12th grade survey) |
Full sample;
|
0.41 |
0.43 |
No |
-- | |
|
Graduated late |
Career Academies vs. Business as usual |
Within 96 months of scheduled grad date |
Full sample;
|
0.09 |
0.10 |
No |
-- |
Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.
| Black | 30% |
| Hispanic | 50% | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 50% |
Reviewed: September 2009
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
In the case of multiple manuscripts that report on one study, the WWC selects one manuscript as the primary citation and lists other manuscripts that describe the study as additional sources.
Kemple, James J. (2004). Career Academies: Impacts on Labor Market Outcomes and Educational Attainment. MDRC.
An indicator of the effect of the intervention, the improvement index can be interpreted as the expected change in percentile rank for an average comparison group student if that student had received the intervention.
For more, please see the WWC Glossary entry for improvement index.
An outcome is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are attained as a result of an activity. An outcome measures is an instrument, device, or method that provides data on the outcome.
A finding that is included in the effectiveness rating. Excluded findings may include subgroups and subscales.
The sample on which the analysis was conducted.
The group to which the intervention group is compared, which may include a different intervention, business as usual, or no services.
The timing of the post-intervention outcome measure.
The number of students included in the analysis.
The mean score of students in the intervention group.
The mean score of students in the comparison group.
The WWC considers a finding to be statistically significant if the likelihood that the finding is due to chance alone, rather than a real difference, is less than five percent.
The WWC reviews studies for WWC products, Department of Education grant competitions, and IES performance measures.
The name and version of the document used to guide the review of the study.
The version of the WWC design standards used to guide the review of the study.
The result of the WWC assessment of the study. The rating is based on the strength of evidence of the effectiveness of the intervention. Studies are given a rating of Meets WWC Design Standards without Reservations, Meets WWC Design Standards with Reservations, or >Does Not Meet WWC Design Standards.
A related publication that was reviewed alongside the main study of interest.
Study findings for this report.
Based on the direction, magnitude, and statistical significance of the findings within a domain, the WWC characterizes the findings from a study as one of the following: statistically significant positive effects, substantively important positive effects, indeterminate effects, substantively important negative effects, and statistically significant negative effects. For more, please see the WWC Handbook.
The WWC may review studies for multiple purposes, including different reports and re-reviews using updated standards. Each WWC review of this study is listed in the dropdown. Details on any review may be accessed by making a selection from the drop down list.
Tier 1 Strong indicates strong evidence of effectiveness,
Tier 2 Moderate indicates moderate evidence of effectiveness, and
Tier 3 Promising indicates promising evidence of effectiveness,
as defined in the
non-regulatory guidance for ESSA
and the regulations for ED discretionary grants (EDGAR Part 77).
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