Career and Technical Education (CTE) Outcomes for Foster Youth
The Career and Technical Education Outcomes for Foster Youth dashboard illustrates the career and technical education (CTE) outcomes of foster youth in Tennessee from 2013-2024. The dashboard examines the relationship between participation in CTE learning pathways and key milestones, including high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment and completion, employment, and job stability following high school graduation. Data was aggregated and extracted from TN DATA, Tennessee Data Analytics for Transparency and Accountability, Tennessee's longitudinal integrated data system.
According to the Tennessee Department of Education, "CTE in Tennessee is designed to equip students with skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience necessary to succeed in postsecondary opportunities, workforce, and military service. Through a combination of classroom instruction, work-based experiences, and leadership opportunities in the seven Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), Tennessee’s CTE programs assist students to prepare for their career of choice, earn valuable industry credentials and postsecondary credits, and gain a competitive edge in the growing job market. https://futureready.tnedu.gov/pillar-3/career-clusters
While the results should not be considered causal, descriptive findings from the Tennessee Office of Evidence and Impact (OEI) indicate that CTE concentration in high school is associated with more favorable outcomes for foster youth. Compared with non-concentrators who were foster youth, CTE concentrators were more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in postsecondary education immediately after graduation, complete postsecondary awards, enter the Tennessee workforce directly after high school graduation, and experience greater job stability.
For questions about the dashboard, please contact OEI.Research@tn.gov.
Accessible Data & Technical Documentation
Please contact OEI.Research@tn.gov with questions regarding the contents of these files.
Technical Documentation (PDF) | Suppressed Data (xlsx)
About the Dashboard
The CTE Outcomes for Foster Youth, 2013- 2024 dashboard was produced by Tennessee’s Office of Evidence and Impact (OEI) utilizing data from Tennessee’s longitudinal integrated data system, Tennessee Data Analytics for Transparency and Accountability (TN DATA). The dashboard leverages data submitted to TN DATA from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, Tennessee Department of Education, and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Information provided through TN DATA may differ from other reports produced due to distinct data processes and reporting requirements. The dashboard has been reviewed and approved for publication by the partnering agencies.
Related Resources
Some metrics in the dashboard are reported by other state agencies and organizations whose reports may differ slightly from the metrics that OEI has derived from TN DATA. Users are encouraged to reference the reports linked below for more detailed information on or comparison of the key metrics presented in the dashboard.