NAF Program Evaluation
Photo credit: NAF
Research has shown that career academies generally, and NAF academies specifically, positively impact students’ school and labor market outcomes.
AIR is partnering with NAF (formerly the National Academy Foundation), a national nonprofit organization that has more than 40 years of experience supporting districts, schools, and educators in implementing the career academy model to prepare students for success in college and careers.
NAF’s high school career academies are small learning communities that engage students in academics through career themes. They include work-based learning and strong employer partnerships.
AIR's Partnership with NAF
From its inception, NAF has been an influential presence in career and technical education, supporting schools and districts in implementing a highly regarded career academy program. I am excited about our partnership with NAF that is helping them better access and use data to improve their program.
- Katherine Hughes, Principal Investigator
AIR is partnering with NAF to execute a five-year evaluation plan to drive and assess multiple new strategic initiatives, as well as to create a system for longitudinal student outcomes research.
AIR is supporting internal NAF teams by:
- Creating metrics to measure improvement and effectiveness of each strategic initiative; and
- Supporting NAF in developing processes to collect data on the outcomes of NAF academy graduates.
AIR’s research includes collecting student alumni surveys and state and national administrative data to understand:
- Alumni experiences during college and career launch;
- Alumni college enrollment and completion rates, and
- Labor market outcomes based on chosen career fields and their corresponding wages.
NAF and AIR will collaboratively share findings from this work with NAF stakeholders and with the field of career and technical education.
