Positive reviews of two postsecondary career and technical education interventions

 The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) recently reviewed the research on two postsecondary career and technical education interventions—Year Up and Project QUEST—and its impacts on high school students. Both interventions support students in completing occupational training programs and obtaining employment in relevant fields. The results are summarized in two intervention reports released today, November 18, 2021, by the Institute of Education Sciences.

Year Up is an intervention that provides six months of occupational and technical training in the information technology and financial service sectors, six-month internships, and supports that ensure students have strong connections to employment. Year Up was studied with 2,002 students in eight urban sites: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York City, Providence, the San Francisco-San Jose Bay area, Seattle, and Washington DC. Based on the research, the WWC found that Year Up has positive effects on short-term earnings and no discernable effects on short-term employment, medium-term earnings, industry-recognized credential, certificate, or license completion, or medium-term employment. Read the full report and learn more about the studies that contributed to this rating.

Project QUEST (Quality Employment through Skills Training) provides comprehensive support services to help students complete occupational training programs at local community colleges and professional training institutes, pass certification exams, and obtain well-paying jobs in targeted sectors of the local economy. Project QUEST was studied with 2,580 students in urban, suburban, and rural districts in Texas Based on the research, the WWC found that Project QUEST has positive effects on industry-recognized credential, certificate, or license completion; potentially positive effects on credit accumulation; no discernable effects on short-term employment, short-term earnings, medium-term employment, medium-term earnings, and long-term earnings; and potentially negative effects on postsecondary degree attainment. Read the full report and learn more about the studies that contributed to this rating.