Policy and Research Issues: Post-High School Transitions

Policy Questions:

1. How do educational antecedents influence students' transitions into the labor market?
   • What are the longer term effects of secondary schooling on labor market entry and success?
   • How does high school completion, noncompletion, or GED status affect labor market entry and success?
   • How does high school learning and achievement influence access to and choice of postsecondary institutions?
   • What kinds of jobs do those who complete college obtain compared to those who do not complete college and how much more do they earn? How do rates of return vary by the subject studied, race/ethnicity, and sex?
   • What influence do dropout and stopout behaviors have on labor market outcomes in high school and in college?
   • How are earlier parental and student aspirations and expectations related to later career outcomes?
   
   
2. How do educational antecedents influence students' access to and persistence in postsecondary education?
   • How do the postsecondary institutions that students apply to and attend vary according to their level of high school preparation, and family background?
   • How do students finance their postsecondary education and how much financial assistance do they receive from different sources?
   • How does high school learning and achievement influence patterns of postsecondary persistence and eventual degree attainment?
   • How do these patterns of persistence differ for students from various gender, racial/ethnic and SES groups?
   • What are the dynamics and causes of leaving college without attaining a degree?
   
   
3. How do educational antecedents influence students' transition into adult social roles?
   • Which individuals enter into marriage and when?
   • What are the patterns of family formation?
   • What are the patterns of involvement in community service or volunteer activities?

Top