Your Monthly News & Updates, December 2016
2016 is drawing to a close, and we are in the midst of preparing for the new year. Read below for CNA Education VP Stacey Jordan's vision for our work in 2017, an article on evaluations of two major Florida education policies, and a new podcast episode. With that, happy holidays from all of us at CNA Education, and we will see you in the new year!

The military has recently faced several challenges to gaining and cultivating quality servicemembers. At the same time, career and technical education (CTE) has been drawing attention for its ability to equip students with both concrete technical skills and more general skills such as problem solving and critical thinking. That is why CNA Education, in collaboration with CNA's Resource Analysis Division (RAD), will conduct a study in 2017 on how CTE can align with the military's training needs. Read more.

The number may surprise you -- the annual national cost of developmental education is estimated at $7 billion. Many students leave high school underprepared for college, resulting in the need for developmental course work once they enroll. In 2008, over half of Florida community college students required remediation. Florida has implemented two major policies within the last decade to reduce the cost of developmental education, and CNA Education is evaluating these policies' effectiveness. In this short article, CNA Education researcher Dr. Julie Harris explains how CNA Education is conducting the evaluations and shares some of our findings and their implications. 


An Interview with Dr. Julie Harris, Research Analyst
Dr. Julie Harris is a research analyst with expertise in quantitative research on improving college readiness and college-going rates. Julie has experience studying English learner students, law, education finance, and issues surrounding school choice. Julie joined the Education team in 2015, and she is currently working on a five-year Institute of Education Sciences grant to evaluate Florida's College and Career Readiness Initiative.

We asked Julie what her most interesting finding has been. Read the interview to find out her answer!

Alignment between CTE programs and military training needs can benefit both students and the military. It can help students prepare for successful careers in the military and help the military reduce training costs. CNA Education is partnering with CNA's Resource Analysis Division (RAD) to conduct a study drawing connections between CTE student outcomes and success in the military. In this episode, experts from each division -- Mr. Jeff Peterson (RAD) and Dr. Thomas Geraghty (Education) -- discuss how this research can help strengthen the alignment between CTE programs and military needs.  Listen here.

STEMwire Live is a podcast on career and technical education (CTE), how CTE can be improved and supported through research, and innovative people and CTE programs that are helping students prepare for success after high school. Listen to past episodes here.

Cameron Wright is a student from eastern Kentucky currently attending Yale University in Connecticut. Research shows that students from middle Appalachia who want to attend college often have few resources and little support to help them reach their educational goals ( Appalachia Rising, Kannapel, Flory, Cramer, Carr, 2015).

In this video, Cameron shares some of the struggles he and other Appalachian students face in pursuing postsecondary education. He also explains how his family's support, help from teachers, and his own motivation and love of learning helped him overcome educational and cultural barriers to attend college.

Cameron will graduate from Yale University in 2020. He is the first in his family to attend college.
Stay Connected
CNA Education | 703-824-2000