Study Information
What is the Delaware Career Development Study?
The study focuses on career development opportunities (CDOs) available to middle and high school students in the Wilmington, Delaware area (New Castle County). CDOs are any activity that help students learn about career options, explore specific career interests, or understand what’s required in careers in general or for specific jobs. CDOs can include awareness activities such as taking a career interest inventory, having employers come in for a job talk, or job fairs; exploratory activities such as workplace tours, career clubs (e.g., 4-H), or career planning; and immersive activities such as enrollment in career and technical education (CTE) programs or pathways (i.e., coursework), work-based learning (internships, apprenticeships), dual enrollment, and earning industry-recognized credentials or certifications.
The study involves an exploratory phase to examine a range of CDOs, exploring offerings, participation, and associations with student outcomes. Results from the exploratory phase will inform development of an impact study to evaluate the contribution of a specific CDO to improving student outcomes. Findings from the study will inform policy, practice, and future research on CDOs and CTE in Delaware and across the nation.
Note that the study is not an evaluation of individual districts, schools, CDO or CTE programs, educators, or students. Nor is it part of any accreditation effort; the study is an independent research study.
Who is funding the Delaware Career Development Study?
This study is funded by a research grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education (Grant #R305N240035). The lead organization is RTI International, a nonpartisan, non-profit research institute.
Who is the team behind the Delaware Career Development Study?
The study is led by a team from RTI International and the University of Delaware. The team conducted research on CTE in Delaware prior to this study and responded to a call for proposals by IES for research to better understand CDOs and their role in supporting student success. The team applied for and received funding from IES based on a competitive grantmaking process.
The team is one of six grants that are part of a CTE Research Network funded by IES.
The study is endorsed by the Delaware Department of Education's Career and Technical Education and STEM Office.
Contact information
Study email: decds@rti.org
Principal Investigator: Ben Dalton, bdalton@rti.org