Factors Influencing Student Enrollment in Career Academy Programs

There is considerable research demonstrating strong benefits of the career academy model to students and teachers, but there is little indicating why students enroll in academies and what methods of recruitment may work best. This study assessed factors influencing students' decisions to enroll in career academy programs by looking at factors that influence students to apply for academy programs and reasons students have for choosing not to enroll in academy programs. A survey was used to collect the necessary data with n = 401 responses from students enrolled in an academy and n = 2,421 responses from students not enrolled in an academy. A factor analysis resulted in two larger groupings linking items together based on program experience and student attitudes. A Pareto analysis indicated that counselors were the greatest influencing factors on student decisions to enroll in career academy programs. Parents, teachers, other students, the course catalog, website, and brochure also played a considerable role in how students learned about the academies. The most influential reasons students have for not applying included not knowing, not interested, and missed deadline.

O impacto da formação no desempenho da arbitragem no futebo

Los responsables del arbitraje a nivel mundial han alentado el desarrollo de programas de formación formal, adecuados a las necesidades de la actividad de los árbitros de fútbol. De ahí que, este estudio tuvo como objetivo: i) analizar las percepciones de los árbitros expertos sobre la introducción de programas de formación formal a lo largo de su carrera (Academia de Arbitraje - AA - para árbitros de fútbol) en Portugal; ii) comprobar el impacto de AA en las calificaciones de los árbitros entre los árbitros que participaron en este modelo de capacitación y los que no lo hicieron. Para ello, se realizaron 2 estudios complementarios. En el estudio 1, se entrevistó a cinco expertos portugueses en arbitraje de fútbol, partiendo de una entrevista semiestructurada, con el análisis de contenido. En el estudio 2, se recogieron las calificaciones de los árbitros de la plantilla nacional 2009-18 (N = 243), que se agruparon de acuerdo con su formación: Grupo 1 (n = 82) promovidos directamente; Grupo 2 (n = 86) promovidos de categoría tras su formación en AA; Grupo 3 (n = 75) los que no fueron promovidos. Los resultados del estudio 1 revelaron: i) un cambio significativo en la estructuración de la formación de los árbitros portugueses tras la temporada 2013-14; ii) la existencia de lagunas en el proceso formativo y de clasificación; iii) la existencia de una cultura de individualismo y exigencia en el sector. Los resultados del estudio 2 solo revelaron diferencias significativas entre G3 y G2. Se concluye que se observaron mejoras en el proceso de formación, aunque no hubo mejoras significativas en el desempeño a nivel de la clasificación. La variable experiencia se identificó como un factor que influyó positivamente en la clasificación. Those responsible for global football refereeing have encouraged the development of formal training programs that meet the requirements of referee activity. Thus, this study aimed to: i) analyze the perceptions of expert referees about the introduction of formal training programs throughout the career (Academy of refereeing - AA - for football referees) in Portugal; (ii) verify the impact of the AA on the referees' performance in referees who participated in this training model and those who did not participate. For this purpose, 2 complementary studies were conducted. In study 1, five Portuguese football refereeing experts were interviewed, based on a semi-structured interview, with content analysis. In study 2, the performance of the referees of the national ranking of 2009-18 (N=243) were collected, and were grouped according to their training: Group 1 (n=82) promoted directly; Group 2 (n=86) promoted from categories after training in AA; Group 3 (n=75) elements that have not been promoted. The results of study 1 revealed: i) a significant change in the training curriculum of Portuguese referees since 2013-14; (ii) the existence of gaps in the formative and classification process; iii) the existence of a culture of individualism and competition in the sector. The results of study 2 revealed only significant differences between the G3 and G2 groups. It was concluded that improvements in the training process were realized, although there were no significant improvements in performance. Experience was identified as the variable that positively influenced the referees’ performance. Os responsáveis pela arbitragem em termos mundiais têm estimulado o desenvolvimento de programas de formação formal que respondam às exigências da atividade de árbitro de futebol. Assim, este estudo pretendeu: i) analisar a perceções de árbitros especialistas sobre a introdução de programas de formação formais ao longo da carreira (Academia de Arbitragem – AA - para árbitros de futebol) em Portugal; ii) verificar o impacto da AA nas classificações dos árbitros entre árbitros que participaram neste modelo de formação e os que não integraram. Para tal foram realizados 2 estudos complementares. No estudo 1 foram entrevistados cinco especialistas portugueses de arbitragem de futebol, a partir de uma entrevista semiestruturada, com respetiva análise de conteúdo. No estudo 2 recolheram-se as classificações dos árbitros dos quadros nacionais de 2009-18 (N=243), tendo sido agrupadas de acordo com a sua formação: Grupo 1 (n=82) promovidos diretamente; Grupo 2 (n=86) promovidos de categorias após formação na AA; Grupo 3 (n=75) elementos que não foram promovidos. Os resultados do estudo 1 revelaram: i) uma mudança significativa na estruturação da formação dos árbitros portugueses a partir da época de 2013-14; ii) a existência de lacunas no processo formativo e classificativo; iii) a existência de uma cultura de individualismo e exigência no setor. Os resultados do estudo 2 apenas revelaram diferenças significativas entre o G3 e o G2. Conclui-se que foram percecionadas melhorias no processo de formação, embora não se verificaram melhorias significativas no desempenho classificativo. A variável experiência foi identificada como fator que influiu positivamente o desempenho classificativo.

This Is My Neighborhood: An Exploration of Culturally Relevant Agency to Support High School Latinx Students in an Urban Career Academy

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives and strategies internal and external stakeholders used to support students in a career academy serving a predominately Latinx community. Within this case study, the principal of the school was Latinx, grew up within the same community as the school, and therefore shared the same culture as his students. Thus, we wondered how effective the principal would be in overcoming the cultural, political, and social barriers of students in the predominately Latinx school. We found the school leaders had a heightened awareness of organizational, cultural, and political complexities because of their own personal investment as well as their lived experiences of living and growing up in the community. The identities of the school leaders, then, led to a collective sense of agency and transformational leadership practices that facilitated a change in the grim situations and prospects of their students, and motivated them to become role models and community leaders providing resources and supports to ensure the high academic performance of students in the academy. However, we also realized that cultural understanding may sometimes lead to parochial views on what is best for students, leading to practices that prevent the exploration of student options beyond high school.

A Comparative Analysis of Student Engagement in Career Academies and a Comprehensive High School

The purpose of this study was to compare the student engagement of career academy students to those at a traditional comprehensive high school. We operationalized student engagement using a multi-dimensional construct comprised of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional measures. Based on data from 669 career academy students and 614 comprehensive school students, we found that academy students had significantly higher levels of cognitive and emotional engagement than those at comprehensive schools. However, we found no statistically significant differences in the levels of behavioral engagement of academy students compared to comprehensive school students. Based on our findings, participation in the academy model has the potential to increase high school students' levels of cognitive and emotional engagement, particularly those from underrepresented and ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds.

Six conditions for successful career academies

Career academies — small learning communities within high schools that introduce students to specific industry sectors — have become a popular way to expand career education. Yet certain institutional, economic, and social factors can inhibit their viability and scalability. Michael Lanford and Tattiya Maruco conducted a yearlong qualitative study of career academies in Southern California to identify six conditions that are necessary for establishing and maintaining a career academy that has a positive influence on students and the community.