EDC Leads Evaluation of Exploring Career Connections in STEM Initiative
EDC has been selected by STEM Next as the evaluation partner for the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Exploring Career Connections in STEM (EC2) Initiative. EC2 integrates out-of-school time (OST) and summer programs into workforce development systems to provide youth with career pathways to highly paid jobs in biotech, healthcare, manufacturing, technical services, and other STEM sectors.
Over the next two and a half years, EDC evaluators Heather Sherwood, Sophia Mansori, Jessica Brett, and Alice Kaiser will study EC2 implementation in Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, and South Dakota. All six states have rapid economic growth and high demand for skilled STEM workers.
In the EC2 initiative, over 500 youth ages 14–21 across 40 local OST program sites will:
- Explore careers, build employability skills, engage with mentors, and receive community-based supports
- Be connected to internships, apprenticeships, potential employers, and/or postsecondary education opportunities
- Prepare to become EC² youth facilitators in afterschool programs by participating in work-based learning training and/or college courses
The initiative will also reach 9,000 younger youth in OST STEM programs, who will engage in career exploration activities led by EC² youth facilitators.
“We are honored to study sites’ progress in achieving STEM Next’s goals for the EC2 initiative,” said Sherwood, who will serve as lead evaluator. “A key part of our work will be to document early signs of effectiveness and provide insights on the best model to scale EC2 nationwide to reach more youth.”
EDC’s mixed methods evaluation will include synthesizing and analyzing program implementation data; administering surveys to youth participants, OST program staff, and workforce partners at all sites; and conducting focus groups and interviews.
We invite you to learn more about EDC’s research and evaluation work and STEM education and workforce development work.
