A changing economy and rapid advancements in technology have resulted in mismatches between employers' needs and workers' skills in a number of fields -- and are likely to continue to generate new ones. Many people in postsecondary education and workforce development see community college career and technical education (CTE) as a way to fill shortages in the labor market while providing a pathway to economic mobility for many Americans. CTE provides occupational preparation and training that often culminates in shorter-term credentials such as certificates; it may or may not provide credits that can be used for college degrees. One important question about CTE programs at community colleges is: Are they equipped to provide those pathways to economic mobility equitably (that is, regardless of individuals' races, ethnicities, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, or geographic regions, or the intersection of these characteristics)? In 2019, MDRC's Center for Effective CTE conducted a scan of notable community college CTE programs across the country to identify promising practices and common challenges. During the conversations held as part of the scan, it became evident that as CTE programs try to address skill gaps in the labor market, many have also already begun to address equity in creative ways. MDRC's scan revealed that community college CTE programs are increasingly committed to achieving equity goals. It also revealed some common promising practices they are adopting to increase opportunity and reduce equity gaps (that is, differences in outcomes between social groups). These practices apply to various points along the education pathway, from outreach and recruitment to postemployment support. This brief discusses factors that can contribute to inequities in community college CTE programs and then provides examples of strategies that the colleges in MDRC's scan are using to try to address those factors. Where applicable, the brief also draws on evidence from the field. In the absence of clearer evidence specific to nontraditional students and students of color in community college CTE programs, evidence that shows positive effects on all students in a variety of community college programs is used.
