RFA is conducting a mixed-methods research study funded by The Heinz Endowments that is leveraging an emergent design to determine priority research needs for the secondary CTE landscape in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This project will include an initial discovery phase providing RFA’s research team opportunities to engage with key systems leaders, practitioners, and advocates to understand roles among key players, identify existing data and resources, and determine the research needs that can be prioritized through this study. This study will further existing knowledge by (1) reviewing current secondary CTE opportunities available to the county’s public high school students and update existing resources mapping alignment between current offerings and the region’s workforce (2) describing the demand for secondary CTE in Allegheny County and (3) identifying supports that are provided or that may be missing for secondary CTE students approaching the post-graduation transition. The study will identify strengths and areas of improvement for the local secondary CTE ecosystem. Ultimately this project can be used to better support secondary CTE students as they embark on their paths to post-secondary education or the workforce following graduation, providing The Heinz Endowments data and perspectives to inform their new program strategy and offering local partners a shared picture of CTE in the region.
Secondary Career and Technical Education Opportunities in Allegheny County: A Mixed-Methods Research Project
Began in July 2025