The purpose of this causal-comparative non-experimental quantitative study was to examine first-year elementary teachers' ratings of their sense of preparedness, compare their ratings based on their ethnicity, and compare teachers' ratings of their preparedness to principals' ratings of first-year teachers' preparedness based on six Texas teaching…

The purpose of this study is to examine how and to what extent an afterschool program for marginalized youth assists in developing workforce readiness skills through a critical positive youth development (CPYD) framework that considers the social contexts of youth. There is little research on afterschool programs that prepare youth for the…

There are a variety of skills needed by young adults to succeed in college, career, and independent living. This study examined three specific life skills of interpersonal communication, decision-making and critical thinking as a predictor of college and career success for incoming college students. The problem addressed in the study was the lack…

Graduates encountered challenges in their field of employment due to lack of practical training.This is a qualitative study aimed at assessing Career Readiness Among Recently Licensed Practical Nurse Graduates. Benner's Model and Duchscher's theoretical framework supports this study. 11 clinical nurse supervisors were included in the research; six…

In 2020, nearly half of Texas's 385,000 public high school graduates were unprepared for college-level reading or math. Limited research reveals K-12 faculty perceive limited roles and responsibilities in the college process, relying heavily on guidance counselors and college admissions counselors for preparing students for college and careers.…

Higher education continually faces scrutiny regarding the value of a degree and the investment of money and time. Is a college degree worth the cost of attendance? Do graduates face a burden of financial debt that is crippling them and/or society? Should the government limit funding to educational institutions that are unable to establish that…

This autoethnography analyzes how my life experiences both as a student and as an educator in this community influenced my principalship and my efforts to open a new elementary school focused on college and career readiness. The aim of this dissertation was to utilize an autoethnographic method to examine the process of opening a new elementary…

Employers expect to hire college graduates who are prepared for their careers with strong skillsets prior to entering the workforce. The purpose of this action research study is to explore the perceptions of undergraduate engineering students' career readiness competencies and supervisors' expectations to further enhance the skills necessary to be…

The purpose of planning this evaluation is to explore perspectives of graduate student socialization to practitioner careers in students' fields of study. Socialization in graduate programs refers to the process by which students learn and adapt to the norms and expectations of their anticipated career fields, and the activities within programs…

The problem of practice is related to career preparation practices for neurodiverse students; this issue is important as individuals with neurological differences experience high levels of unemployment. The purpose of this action research study was to examine and strengthen career preparation for students with neurological differences at a…

Limited research has examined Black girls' college readiness, college enrollment, and college persistence. As a result, this study analyzes the outcomes relative to AP course enrollment, dual credit enrollment, and high school grade point average of Black girls. Attention has been given to black men's disparity and lack of educational attainment…

This study examined the relationship between leadership style (transformational, transactional, and passive avoidant) and self-perceived career readiness (basic skills, thinking skills, personal qualities, and interpersonal skills) in technical college students. Participants in this study included students enrolled in any technical program at any…

Recent federal legislation mandates that college and career readiness be integrated into the curriculum for all high school students (National Center for Education Achievement, n.d.). To support economic growth, educated individuals must be available within an industry and local area (Harvey et al., 2019). Therefore, "[t]he essence of college…

Student employability after college graduation is much debated, as new hires are having trouble not only obtaining a job but maintaining one. Research indicates (e.g., Baird & Parayitam, 2019; Bear & Skorton, 2019) that employers across industries want and need access to a workforce comprised of candidates with a shared knowledge of hard…

While there are examples of strong teacher preparation programs throughout the country, too many of them do not provide teachers with a rigorous, clinical experience that prepares them for the schools in which they will work (Duncan, 2011; Greenburg et al., 2011; Levin, 2006). The purpose of this study was to examine teacher candidates'…