Did the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Expand and Improve Vocational Training at Community Colleges?

This study explores whether the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Program, the largest federal investment in community colleges in this nation’s history, expanded and improved vocational training programs. We find that, on average, the completion of credentials in career-technical fields increased at institutions receiving a TAACCCT in the first wave of the program, compared with other public, 2-year colleges. In particular, credentials in business, health care, and information technology (IT)-related fields increased, and the growth is concentrated in certificates. Our findings support previous literature examining the relationship between college funding and student outcomes, and suggest that additional funding enables public 2-year colleges to expand and improve technical education programs, despite some of the unique challenges facing these programs.