Can Career Learning Bring America’s Young People Back to School?
School absenteeism sky-rocketed post-pandemic: 6.5 million more students missed at least 10% or more of the 2021-22 school year than in 2017-18. This means 14.7 million students were chronically absent even after schools reopened from the pandemic. While preliminary data shows that absentee rates slightly decreased in the 2022-23 school year, truancy remains a serious concern for our nation’s K-12 system.
School absences take a toll on the academic performance and social-emotional development of young people. The National Center for Education Statistics, the organization that administers the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), cited increased student absenteeism as a main factor in recent NAEP score declines. Beyond test scores, irregular attendance can be a predictor of dropping out of high school, which has been linked to poor labor market prospects, diminished health, and increased involvement in the criminal justice system.
If we want to get students back in the classroom and avoid poor outcomes for our nation’s young people, U.S. leaders must rethink how we operate K-12 education. One potential solution is reinventing high school to ensure every young person is exposed to the world of work through career-oriented education and learning. An analysis of international cross-section data found that nations enrolling a large proportion of students in vocational or career-focused programs have significantly higher school attendance rates and higher completion rates than those that don’t.
This research is being confirmed in school districts across the country. A good example is the Advanced Technical Center (ATC) in Washington, D.C. ATC is an open-enrollment education center that removes barriers for students to access Career and Technical Education (CTE). Students entering ninth through eleventh grade across D.C. public and public charter schools can enroll at ATC where they learn the skills needed for high-demand careers in cybersecurity and nursing. Students practice taking vital signs on medical dummies or coding in computer labs and then spend the rest of the day at their primary high school. The ATC removes barriers to participation by providing transportation for students, hiring advisers who are on-site to help guide students and monitor their attendance, and removing entrance hurdles so that more students are encouraged to apply.
This effort is boosting attendance. Last year in D.C., 60% of teens missed at least 18 days of school and 43% of students across the city were chronically absent. But those who took classes at the ATC attended nearly 13 more days of school than their peers who did not. The data also suggests that students were motivated not only to show up to their career prep classes, but it positively influenced their regular high school attendance as well — with ATC students being less likely to be chronically absent or chronically truant.
Some schools are not only working to keep kids in the classroom but are bringing back those who left. The KIDS COUNT Data Center, which tracks trends among youth ages 16 to 19, indicates that 7% of the nation’s older teens — more than 1.1 million young people — are neither working or in school. That’s why YouthBuild Philadelphia, part of the national YouthBuild network, created the YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School to get disconnected youth to reengage with education. Students in the program earn a high school diploma in one year and certifications through employer partners in four areas: building trades, childcare, health care, or business administration/customer service. The program also offers dual enrollment with the Community College of Philadelphia and all students receive an additional year of YouthBuild services after they leave the school to support them in finding housing, applying for benefits if needed, and preparing for interviews, among other supports.
This approach gives the YouthBuild students, who all come from low-income backgrounds, the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and help them move into postsecondary education or employment. More than 70% of YouthBuild Philadelphia students graduate from the program and of those who graduate, more than 90% move on to full-time employment or postsecondary education with over 75% retention after one year. Additionally, a national study found that YouthBuild participants were more likely to experience multiple positive outcomes compared to non-YouthBuild participants — including increased weekly earnings. Not only does this school help get young people re-attached to our public education system, but it also offers career-oriented learning and experiences that help graduates advance in their chosen career path.
Alternative and career-focused school models are proving effective in boosting student attendance, engagement, and post-secondary outcomes. The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) has long advocated for education reform that embraces such innovations, allowing schools autonomy to tailor education to their students’ needs and promote career-oriented learning and on-the-job experiences. The examples from D.C. and Philly exemplify this approach by integrating academic and hands-on career experiences, equipping students with practical skills, and providing the necessary support to advance student success.
To replicate these effective examples across the country, policymakers at all levels of government must adopt a more modern education agenda. Leaders can no longer ignore the value of charter and alternative school models and should encourage these types of schools to serve diverse student bodies. They must increase investment for career and technical education and better leverage state and local recovery funds for these efforts and leaders must require cross-sector partnerships to ensure K-12 programs are aligned to postsecondary education and employer needs.
It's clear that the current education system is inadequate, as seen by the students facing chronic absenteeism and those who are disconnected from school and work. It’s time to reinvent America’s public schools to place more emphasis on postsecondary readiness and ensure young people benefit from effective career learning opportunities. This action is essential to ensure that our nation’s education system leads to greater economic opportunity and avoids leaving millions of young people behind.
