The project team will study whether the ACT WorkKeys career preparation assessment (which measures skills in graphic literacy, applied math, and workplace document comprehension) is correlated with postsecondary enrollment, employment, and earnings. The study will follow students who attended career and technical education programs in North Carolina for up to six years following their high school graduation. The researchers will also examine how WorkKeys scores and economic outcomes vary by race and ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, career and technical education concentration, postsecondary attendance, and local economic conditions.

Data Sources 

• Data: Statewide longitudinal administrative data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, WorkKeys test scores, and National Student Clearinghouse postsecondary enrollment and completion records
• Mobility Outcomes: Employment and wages from the North Carolina Department of Commerce