Back to Apply Breadcrumb Home Apply Goal #5: Support Workforce Transitions and Success Essential Questions Identify your essential question(s) about K-12 outcomes. Select from the framework’s essential questions or draft your own. Leading with essential questions can help you understand and prioritize what data you need to collect to answer those questions. The process of defining essential questions can also be a way to bring people together to agree on shared priorities. Example For example, you want to understand, “Are students gaining access to quality jobs that offer economic mobility and security after high school or postsecondary training and education?” Indicators Once you have identified your essential question(s), assess what data (indicators and metrics) you need to answer the question(s). What data can you already access? For which indicators would you need additional information? Example To answer the question above, you would need data on rates of employment in a quality job, economic mobility, and economic security. You also want to understand labor market conditions affecting this question, so you aim to gather data on whether job seekers have access to jobs paying a living wage. Disaggregates Disaggregate data to understand trends and patterns. Breaking data down by different populations, system conditions, or experiences can help data users assess disparities, expose hidden trends, and make informed decisions that lead to more equitable outcomes. Example If you are interested in the extent to which individuals in different occupations experience economic mobility and security, you may disaggregate data by occupation category. Evidence-based Practices Once you have collected and analyzed data to understand trends and patterns, use this information to select evidence-based practices to improve supports or outcomes related to your essential question(s). Using data to guide your selection of practices can help you make choices that meet the unique needs and opportunities in your community. Image Example If the data show strong prospects for job growth and economic mobility in a certain sector, you might promote the expansion of sector-oriented job training programs in that field. Example Equitable Data Practices Work with community members who support workforce transitions to determine which characteristics to measure during data collection. Disaggregate both outcome and systems data at multiple levels to illuminate any disparities. Example disaggregates for the workforce sector might include occupation category or age group, which can help identify whether individuals aligned to certain occupation types or within certain age groups are experiencing barriers to advancement (Data Equity Principle 3).Use qualitative data, such as interview or focus group data, to help you interpret quantitative data by capturing additional insights and ensuring workers’ voices are reflected in research findings (Data Equity Principle 5).Communicate findings to data providers in a format that is actionable and useful for improving workforce supports. For example, use visualizations to share findings about worker well-being with employers so they can easily interpret and use the data to guide action (Data Equity Principle 6 and Data Equity Principle 7). Looking for Data? To identify readily available data for supporting workforce transitions and success, explore the external data sources suggested below—and don’t forget to seek out state and local data sources that are unique to your community.Perkins State Plans and Data Explorer – U.S. Department of Education. The Perkins State Plans and Data Explorer is designed to provide career and technical education (CTE) practitioners, researchers, and other interest holders with access to information and data submitted by states in their Perkins V State plans. This information and data can help interested parties understand each state’s vision, goals, and priorities for CTE as well as explore the outcomes for students who concentrate in CTE programs.Interactive Data Analysis Tool – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This tool contains data compiled from the WIOA Individual Performance Records Full Use Data files, which collect data submitted by states on a quarterly and yearly basis about who is served under WIOA and their outcomes.