Creating a Future-Oriented Culture in High Schools: The Impact of the College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE) Project (Edmunds et al., 2021)

Study Profile What's in a study profile?
Causal Study Rating:
Moderate Causal Evidence
Study Type:
Causal Impact Analysis
Outcome Findings:
Education and skills gains: Mod/high-Favorable impacts
Citation
Edmunds, J. A., Grebing, E. M., Coyle, V. C., Rosof, L., Henson, B. A., & Cardwell, R. (2021). Creating a Future-Oriented Culture in High Schools: The Impact of the College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE) Project. SERVE Center at University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

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There is no conflict of interest.

Highlights

  • The study's objective was to examine the impact of College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE) on education outcomes.
  • The study used a nonexperimental design to compare students participating in the CCRE program to a matched comparison group of non-participating students. Using data from the Ohio Department of Education, the authors conducted statistical models to examine the effects of the program.
  • The study found that CCRE students were significantly more likely to have earned college credit than non-CCRE students.
  • This study received a moderate evidence rating. This means we are somewhat confident that the estimated effects are attributable to College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE), but other factors might also have contributed.

Intervention Examined

College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE)

Features of the Intervention

The CCRE program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, aims to improve college and career readiness in K-12 schools in Columbus, Ohio. Its main goal is to support economic growth in the area. The program incorporates Early College Design Principles and has four main components. First, the College-Ready Academic program lets high school students earn college credits while they are still in school. Second, the College HeadStart initiative offers college visits, advising, and helps students understand college life. Third, Wraparound Student Supports provide help with college applications, academic assistance, and other student needs. Finally, School-level Organizational Practices are implemented to foster a supportive environment for these efforts, focusing on a college-going culture, data-driven decisions, collaboration among teachers, ongoing training, and building relationships. The program specifically targets high school students in Ohio, focusing on those identified as low-income and economically disadvantaged.

Features of the Study

The study was a nonexperimental design conducted in Ohio. It compared students from 16 schools involved in the CCRE program with non-participating students from 32 other high schools. To ensure a fair comparison, the authors matched schools on several characteristics, including school demographics, academic performance, and school-level outcomes such as dropout rates and enrollment in advanced courses. A total of 19,380 students graduating in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years were included in the analysis. The CCRE group had access to specific educational services, while the comparison group did not. The study used data from the Ohio Department of Education, focusing on graduates who enrolled in at least one dual-credit course during the study period. The authors used statistical models to compare the differences in outcomes between the two groups of students.

Findings

Education and skills gain 

  • The study found that the CCRE students were significantly more likely to earn college credit than the non-CCRE students.

Causal Evidence Rating

The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is moderate because it was based on a well-implemented nonexperimental design. This means we are somewhat confident that the estimated effects are attributable to College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE), and not to other factors.

Reviewed by CLEAR: June 2026

Research Guidelines

Review Protocol: Living Systematic Annual Search and Review Protocol

Review Guidelines: Causal Evidence Guidelines