Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education Evaluation, United States, 2011-2020

The Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) study was designed to produce rigorous evidence for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers about the effectiveness of nine career pathways approaches that sought to increase credentials, employment, and self-sufficiency among low-income, low-skilled Americans. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, PACE included nine program-specific evaluation reports. The study was led by Abt Associates, in partnership with MEF Associates, The Urban Institute, and the University of Michigan.

Each program-specific evaluation included an implementation study that examined the design and operation of the program and enrolled students' participation patterns, and an impact study that used an experimental design to measure differences in educational and employment outcomes between individuals randomly assigned to a group that could receive services from the PACE program (treatment group) and a group that could not but could participate in other services in the community (control group). Program impacts were measured 18 to 24 months following random assignment, depending on the program. Follow-up impact reports will cover three and six years after random assignment.

The collection includes the following 15 data files:

• Analysis Data File (9,242 cases; 152 variables)
• Basic Information Form Data File (9,242 cases; 79 variables)
• Case Manager/Advisor Data File (108 cases; 223 variables)
• Instructional Staff Data File (135 cases; 510 variables)
• Manager/Supervisor Data File (41 cases; 202 variables)
• First Follow-up Data File (7,139 cases; 1,432 variables)
• Self-Administered Questionnaire Data File (9,242 cases; 96 variables)
• 3 Year Updated Analysis Data File (9,242 cases; 1,676 variables)
• Augmented Credentials Data File (5,862 cases; 29 variables)
• Augmented Job Spells Data File (13,540 cases; 31 variables)
• Augmented School Spells Data File (7,013 cases; 29 variables)
• Job Conditions Data File (5,702 cases; 28 variables)
• Person Level Data File (6,772 cases; 290 variables)
• 6 Year Follow-up Survey Data File (3,279 cases; 322 variables)
• 6 Year Updated Analysis Data File (3,279 cases; 177 variables)