The Training, Education, and Apprenticeship Program Outcomes Toolkit (TEAPOT)

In this project, the research team will develop a prototype of the Training, Education, and Apprenticeship Program Outcomes Toolkit (TEAPOT). Designed to inform students' training and educational decision making over a variety of potential pathways, TEAPOT willimprove the flow and accuracy of data resulting in improved estimates of the return on investment (ROI) for different postsecondary education pathways.  In Phase I, the research team will develop a data interoperability system and simplified toolkit for states and local postsecondary and workforce development organizations. The toolkit will provide more high quality, consistent, and granular information on postsecondary outcomes. The prototype will calculate ROI using student information, programmatic information (with an emphasis on net program costs to allow for variations by program type at the same institution), and access to wage and employment data sets.

At the end of Phase I, researchers will conduct a pilot study with a socio-economically and diverse sample of at least 500 high school students who will test the prototype ROI tool. The researchers will examine the feasibility and usability of the prototype, whether ROI information increases search and discovery for educational opportunities; whether having ROI information increases the likelihood of click-through rates and enrollment; and whether the availability of ROI information leads to measurable changes in enrollment in high versus low ROI programs.