STEM-Focused Career Courses and College Pipeline for Students with Learning Disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 089590482110199
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Freeman ◽  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Jay Stratte Plasman
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
High School Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
School Students ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Career And Technical ◽  
Nationally Representative

Recent educational policies in the United States have fostered the growth of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career-focused courses to support high school students’ persistence into these fields in college and beyond. As one key example, federal legislation has embedded new types of “applied STEM” (AS) courses into the career and technical education curriculum (CTE), which can help students persist in STEM through high school and college. Yet, little is known about the link between AS-CTE coursetaking and college STEM persistence for students with learning disabilities (LDs). Using a nationally representative data set, we found no evidence that earning more units of AS-CTE in high school influenced college enrollment patterns or major selection in non-AS STEM fields for students with LDs. That said, students with LDs who earned more units of AS-CTE in high school were more likely to seriously consider and ultimately declare AS-related STEM majors in college.

scholarly journals Who’s Taking What? “Applied STEM” Coursetaking for High School Students With Learning Disabilities

AERA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233285842199907
Author(s):  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Jay Plasman ◽  
Jennifer A. Freeman ◽  
Shaun Dougherty
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
High School Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
School Students ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Career And Technical ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Mathematics

Increasing and improving the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational pipeline has been a point of emphasis for decades, and federal policy in the United States has urged high schools to embed new types of STEM courses into the curriculum. As one example, applied STEM courses—one growing branch within career and technical education (CTE)—are designed to reinforce traditional academic STEM content and to motivate students’ interests and long-term pursuits in STEM areas. That said, little is known about who takes these courses, and applied-STEM-CTE enrollment in these courses has not been explored in the research for students with learning disabilities. Using the High School Longitudinal Study (a nationally representative data set of high school students), we asked whether CTE coursetaking differed for students with learning disabilities compared with those without disabilities, and whether there were specific coursetaking differences in applied-STEM-CTE. We found that students with learning disabilities were more likely to earn more units in CTE courses compared with students without disabilities. Yet, when looking at applied-STEM-CTE courses, we see that although students with learning disabilities earn more CTE units than students without disabilities, students with learning disabilities do not take different amounts of applied-STEM-CTE courses. Implications are discussed.

Applied STEM Coursework, High School Dropout Rates, and Students With Learning Disabilities

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 664-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Stratte Plasman ◽  
Michael A. Gottfried
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
School Students ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Educational History ◽  
Nationally Representative

Applied science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) coursetaking is becoming more commonplace in traditional high school settings to help students reinforce their learning in academic STEM courses. Throughout U.S. educational history, vocational education has been a consistent focus for schools to keep students on the school-to-career pathway. However, very few studies have examined the role of applied STEM coursetaking in improving schooling outcomes for students with learning disabilities. This is a major missing link as students with learning disabilities tend to exhibit much higher dropout rates than students from the general population. This study examines mechanisms displayed through applied STEM courses and the role they play in helping students with learning disabilities complete high school and transition into college. Using a nationally representative data set of high school students and their full transcripts (i.e., Education Longitudinal Study of 2002), we found that students with learning disabilities who took applied STEM courses significantly increased their educational outcomes in the following ways: lowered chances of dropout, increased math test scores, and increased enrollment in postsecondary education. While the general student population also benefited by taking applied STEM courses, the advantages were greater for those students with learning disabilities.

scholarly journals Do Career-Engaging Courses Engage Low-Income Students?

AERA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233285842110533
Author(s):  
Jay Stratte Plasman ◽  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Daniel J. Klasik
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Low Income ◽  
School Engagement ◽  
Low Income Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Career And Technical ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Do So

Encouraging school engagement is crucial to promoting positive outcomes for high school students. One potential means to promote school engagement may be through career and technical education (CTE) coursework, which is specifically designed to be educationally engaging, particularly for vulnerable populations such as those from low-income backgrounds. Yet, little is known about whether these courses do in fact link to higher school engagement. Through analysis of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009—a nationally representative data set—we explored the link between STEM-focused CTE (STEM-CTE) coursetaking and school engagement for low-income students. To do so, we employed an instrumental variable estimation technique and found that taking STEM-CTE courses related to higher school engagement for low-income students. We conclude with a discussion of implications for students, practitioners, and policymakers.

The Fairness of Report Card Grading Adaptations

1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Bursuck ◽  
Dennis D. Munk ◽  
Mary M. Olson
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
High School Students ◽  
General Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
Achievement Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Perceptions Of Fairness ◽  
Teacher Acceptability

As more and more students with learning disabilities are being included in general education classes, concerns have arisen in regard to the low grades that these students are likely to receive. Although there is some evidence to suggest that teacher adaptations of grades are helpful, the extent to which teachers implement grading adaptations may be influenced at least in part by the teachers' perceived acceptability of the adaptations. One factor that may influence perceived teacher acceptability is student perceptions. Teachers may be unlikely to use adaptations that are perceived as negative by their students. The purpose of this study was to (a) assess high school students' perceptions of the fairness of grading adaptations, (b) identify factors (e.g., achievement level) that may influence perceptions of fairness, and (c) identify practices deemed most fair and acceptable to students with and without learning disabilities. This purpose was met by surveying and interviewing high school students with and without learning disabilities. The results of the surveys and interviews as well as their implications for grading students with learning disabilities in general education classes are discussed.

Substance Use on School Property among Students Attending Alternative High Schools in the United States

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy D. Brener ◽  
Todd W. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
High School ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
High School Students ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Alternative High School ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Students ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
School Property

We analyzed nationally representative data from the 1998 National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine the prevalence of substance use on school property among alternative high school students in the United States, to describe the characteristics of students who use substances on school property, and to examine the interrelationships of substance-use behaviors. During the 30 days preceding the survey, nearly 48 percent of students used at least one substance on school property and 17 percent used more than one substance on school property. Males were more likely than females and white students were more likely than black or Hispanic students to have used substances on school property. The results of this and other studies suggest that school administrators, public health practitioners, and policy makers should work to improve strategies for reducing substance use in this heterogeneous, hard-to-reach population.

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