Sometimes Less, Sometimes More: Trends in Career and Technical Education Participation for Students with Disabilities

SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com

Y

11

Institute of Education Sciences (ED)

R324A200233

Vocational Education; Students with Disabilities; Enrollment Trends; Student Participation; STEM Education; Allied Health Occupations Education; Educational Policy; High School Students; Postsecondary Education; Credits; Course Selection (Students); Occupations; Public Schools

Washington; United States

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (NCES); High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (NCES)

10.3102/0013189X211006361

0013-189X
1935-102X

We leverage nationally representative data and statewide data from Washington to investigate trends in occupational career and technical education (CTE) participation for students with and without disabilities. Consistent with prior work, we document declines in occupational CTE participation since the early 2000s, but we provide the first evidence that this decline can be explained by movement out of courses that are no longer considered CTE. Under the definitions operating at the time, though, we show that participation by students with disabilities in applied science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical/health (STEMM) CTE courses has increased over time, both nationally and in Washington. These trends are encouraging given prior evidence linking applied STEMM-CTE participation to better long-term outcomes for students with disabilities.

As Provided

Yes

2022

EJ1328524