Career Academies
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
- Feature small learning communities in low-income high schools, combining academic and technical or career curricula
- Each Career Academy serves between 150 to 200 high school-aged students at a time
- Aims to improve academic and career success by ensuring that the high school experience is rigorous and career-relevant
- Offer workplace opportunities through partnerships with employers, often with curriculum organized around one occupation or industry
- Outcomes
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High school graduationPost-secondary enrollment and graduationStable high-quality employment
- Target Population
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High school-aged children
- Cost per Participant
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$3,800-$7,600 over 3-4 years
Evidence and impacts
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Social Programs That Work, the National Institute of Justice; the second-highest level of evidence by Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development, the U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse
- Increased grade point averages
- Increased average annual earnings by 11% ($2,555 per year in 2017 dollars), sustained over 8 years after high school graduation
- Gains concentrated among men (17% earnings increase); not effective for women
- Increased the number of months employed, hours worked per week, and hourly wages one to four year years after graduation
Best practices in implementation
- Note: This content is under review
- Access to funding from the school district and local, state, and federal government is essential for sustaining Career Academies.
- Career Academies benefit from partnerships with local employers, employment agencies, mentoring groups, and local governments.
- To ensure strong enrollment, outreach strategies should be culturally attuned to the makeup of local communities.
- Additional supports should be provided to help students manage rigorous academic and skills training curriculum.