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Despite growing calls to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) remain underrepresented in STEM at the postsecondary level. Considering this call for increased diversity as a means to expand and strengthen STEM success, we used the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 to explore how participation in engineering career and technical education (E-CTE) links to postsecondary educational outcomes for SWLDs. Particularly, we examined how E-CTE participation relates to postsecondary remedial course taking, enrollment in a 4-year postsecondary institution, and declaration of a STEM major. Results from school fixed-effects estimations suggest that each credit of E-CTE earned is associated with fewer remedial college courses, a higher likelihood of enrolling in a 4-year as opposed to sub-baccalaureate institution, and increased odds of declaring a STEM major. To conclude, we discuss the implications of our findings for both policymakers and practitioners. 

In recent years, there has been a specific call to not only increase the number of engineering-trained individuals but also to address the lack of diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, including individuals with disabilities. In particular, students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) make up a large portion of all students and are, therefore, a crucial population on which to focus educational and career progression efforts. One potential means of promoting persistence along the STEM pipeline—engineering specifically—is through engineering career and technical education (E-CTE) coursework in high school. Using a nationally representative dataset, we explore how E-CTE participation links to college preparation and transition activities for SWLDs, including math SAT performance, dual credit course participation, college application, and FAFSA completion. Under our more rigorous school fixed-effects models, we find that E-CTE participation is associated with beneficial results across each of our outcomes. The implications are discussed. 

There has been a recent expansion of high school course offerings in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical/health (STEMM) fields. The large span of courses now offered in STEMM are delineated across STEMM-general courses (i.e., chemistry) and STEMM-CTE courses (i.e., information technology). Little is known, however, about who are the teachers in these courses. This brief addresses this void by developing a taxonomy of the STEMM teaching workforce using statewide data from Maryland. Through this taxonomy, we examine the number of STEMM teachers by whether they teach general versus CTE STEMM courses, and whether they do so exclusively or across both types. We then examine what teaching courseloads look like across these groupings, as well as by qualifications and demographics. The aim of this brief is to understand not only the landscape of who teaches which STEMM courses, but also to identify disparities. This can help inform research on STEMM courses and teachers as well as policy, practice, and professional development. 

Abstract Demand for engineering‐interested and proficient high school graduates continues to grow across the nation. However, there remains a severe gap in college participation and employment in engineering fields for students with learning disabilities (SWLDs). One potential way to encourage SWLDs to consider engineering as a profession and promote the development of key science attitudes may be through engineering and technology career and technical education (E‐CTE) coursework. In this study, we address the following research questions: Do SWLDs take E‐CTE courses in the early years of high school at different rates compared to students without learning disabilities? What is the relationship between early E‐CTE coursetaking and science attitudes (self‐efficacy, utility, identity), and does this differ for students with and without learning disabilities? How do specific engineering career expectations change with respect to enrollment in early E‐CTE coursework, and do these differ for students with and without learning disabilities? We utilize the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS) to respond to the research questions through moderation models and a student fixed effects methodology. Ultimately, we found no evidence of SWLD underrepresentation in E‐CTE in high school. However, SWLDs were expected to benefit more than the general population from E‐CTE participation with respect to higher levels of science self‐efficacy and science identity. Implications from these findings include how to encourage persistence along the engineering pathway, the growth of career pathway policies at the state level, and how to incorporate E‐CTE practices in academic courses.