Does Expanding Access to High Quality Technical Education Induce Participation and Improve Outcomes?

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has expanded with the intention to meet a changing economy and broaden pathways to higher education and training. Using longitudinal administrative data from Massachusetts, we generate causal evidence on the impact of high-quality CTE expansion in comprehensive high schools. Leveraging the staggered rollout of these programs, we find that access to a new CTE program induces 5.4 percent of prior non-participants to enroll. On average, while CTE exposure decreases four-year college enrollment, initial earnings one-year post-graduation increase by 8.8 percent among those with in-state employment. However, this early wage premium diminishes by age 23. These patterns are driven primarily by male students and those with access to less college-aligned programs. Conversely, more college-aligned programs induce a 4.5 percent increase in quarters of employment through age 23 while experiencing a more muted decline in four-year college enrollment and completion.