The Career and Technical Education Research Network 2.0
A hub for CTE research, research training, and dissemination of research findings
Career and technical education (CTE) provides a critical pathway for students to gain academic, technical, and employability skills in the context of a professional field, and prepares them for further education, training, and careers. The growing public and policy interest in CTE, combined with a need for evidence-based practices, has placed CTE at an interesting intersection. In recent years, new causal CTE studies, including those that are part of the original CTE Research Network launched in 2018, have released findings showing positive impacts on student outcomes. However, additional rigorous research on CTE programs is needed for evidence-based policymaking and to support practitioners seeking effective models.
The CTE Research Network 2.0 builds on the momentum of the original CTE Research Network to foster a learning community of CTE researchers and move the CTE field forward by conducting and expanding the use of rigorous research focused on CTE. With an enhanced focus on equity, the network will continue to provide information in a variety of ways to the CTE field about what works, for whom, where, and why.
Our Primary Areas of Focus
Research
Increase the number of studies examining the impact of CTE policies, programs, and practices on student outcomes
Training
Strengthen the capacity of researchers and practitioners to conduct, use, and share rigorous and causal CTE research
Coordination
Improve coherence among CTE research projects, identify new research priorities, and share strategies to address research challenges
Dissemination
Engage stakeholders in network activities and share findings to inform efforts to improve CTE programs and student outcomes
Network Lead
The American Institutes for Research® (AIR®) and its partners—the Association for Career and Technical Education® (ACTE®), Boston College, and the Career and Technical Education Policy Exchange, part of the Georgia Policy Labs at Georgia State University—serve as the CTE Research Network Lead. The Network Lead provides network administration and coordination as well as research, training, and dissemination to increase the amount high-quality research evidence and strengthen the field’s research capacity.
American Institutes for Research
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. Learn more
Association for Career and Technical Education
ACTE is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association empowering educators to deliver high-quality CTE programs that ensure all students are positioned for career success. For more than 90 years, ACTE has provided CTE professionals with advocacy, public awareness, and access to resources, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Learn more
The Career and Technical Education Policy Exchange at Georgia Policy Labs, Georgia State University
The Georgia Policy Labs is a collaboration between Georgia State University and a variety of government agencies to promote evidence-based policy development. The Career and Technical Education Policy Exchange, part of the Georgia Policy Labs, is a multi-state consortium dedicated to improving the quality of high school career and technical education (CTE) programs in the United States. Learn more
Boston College
Boston College, founded in 1863 and the first institution of higher education to operate in the city of Boston, is today among the nation’s foremost universities, a leader in the liberal arts, scientific inquiry, and student formation. Learn more
Network Lead Team
Network Members
The CTE Research Network will bring together IES-funded research teams focused on measuring the impact of CTE programs on student outcomes. As network members, the research teams will participate in collaborative activities to share findings, strengthen their research, and learn from one another. Network teams will join in fall 2024.