Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of Linking Learning to Careers (LLC) on earnings for youth with disabilities.
- The study was a randomized controlled trial. Using survey and administrative data, the authors conducted statistical models to compare outcomes between the treatment and control groups.
- The study found no significant differences between the groups in earnings.
- This study receives a moderate causal evidence rating. This means we would be somewhat confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to Linking Learning to Careers, but other factors might also have contributed. However, the study did not find statistically significant effects.
Intervention Examined
Linking Learning to Careers (LLC)
Features of the Intervention
The Linking Learning to Careers (LLC) program is a vocational rehabilitation program that seeks to help high school students with disabilities strategically plan for their futures. The Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) created the LLC program to provide individualized transition supports to help high school students with disabilities gain confidence and skills to pursue postsecondary education and competitive employment. Building on the DVR's usual transition services for high school students, the LLC program focused on unpaid and paid work-based learning experiences (WBLEs) in integrated environments. Other services included college exploration and coursework at the Community College of Vermont (CCV), a dedicated VR support professional, team-based VR support, and access to additional funding for assistive technology and transportation. VR staff used LLC specific planning tools with the students. LLC program services were provided at the twelve DVR district offices. To be eligible for LLC, students were required to already be using DVR services.
Features of the Study
The study was a randomized controlled trial. Students were recruited on a rolling basis from April 2017 to January 2019. Of the 803 eligible high school students with disabilities, 413 were randomly assigned to the treatment group and 390 were randomly assigned to the control group. Students in the treatment group received the LLC services while students in the control group received DVR services as usual. The study sample was primarily White (93%) males (63%), with an average age of 16. Data sources included LLC enrollment data, DVR administrative data, Vermont unemployment insurance data, the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), a baseline survey, and 24-month follow-up surveys. The authors used statistical models to compare the outcomes between treatment and control groups.
Findings
Earnings and wages
- The study found no significant differences between the treatment and control groups in receipt of any earnings or average weekly earnings.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
Although the study was a randomized controlled trial, it had high attrition for the outcome variables. Therefore, the study is not eligible for a high causal evidence rating. However, the authors accounted for preexisting differences between the groups before program participation. Also, the authors reported that there was variation in the LLC program implementation across the twelve DVR district offices, potentially diluting treatment effects if one or more aspects of the LLC program were implemented inconsistently.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is moderate because it was a randomized controlled trial with high attrition, but the authors ensured that the groups being compared were similar before the intervention. This means we would be somewhat confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to Linking Learning to Careers, but other factors might also have contributed. However, the study did not find statistically significant effects.