Walt Ecton
@waltecton.bsky.social
Assistant Professor @ University of Michigan's Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education. Research on High School, College & Career. CTE. Politics & Econ of Ed. Former HS teacher. He/Him.🌈
Check out this new blog post on CTE & Occupation Licensing from @nicolasacevedor.bsky.social : step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu/blog-posts
step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu
November 5, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Check out this new blog post on CTE & Occupation Licensing from @nicolasacevedor.bsky.social : step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu/blog-posts
Thanks to @mpolikoff.bsky.social for a great talk on Americans' views on LGBTQ & race-related curriculum at Michigan this morning!
September 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Thanks to @mpolikoff.bsky.social for a great talk on Americans' views on LGBTQ & race-related curriculum at Michigan this morning!
Today's The Daily is a cautionary tale of what happens when we tell students to specialize in one skill too narrowly. Students today should learn to code & use AI, but need strong general skills to be nimble & keep their job options open as workforce needs shift. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/p...
Big Tech Told Kids to Code. The Jobs Didn’t Follow.
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Today's The Daily is a cautionary tale of what happens when we tell students to specialize in one skill too narrowly. Students today should learn to code & use AI, but need strong general skills to be nimble & keep their job options open as workforce needs shift. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/p...
Enjoyed talking with @edweek.org about the Department of Education's announcement that they plan to prioritize CTE. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
Math and Career Education Are Now Top Grant Priorities for Ed. Dept.
The announcement outlines what the administration plans to champion after canceling hundreds of grants in the past few weeks.
www.edweek.org
September 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Enjoyed talking with @edweek.org about the Department of Education's announcement that they plan to prioritize CTE. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
GO BLUE from Michigan Higher Ed faculty!
September 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
GO BLUE from Michigan Higher Ed faculty!
Great job with an awesome team doing impactful work (and Detroit is super cool too!)
📢 Job Posting! 📢 We are hiring TWO postdocs at Detroit PEER at Wayne State (detroitpeer.org)! We are looking for one quant/mixed methods expert and one qual/mixed expert to work with me & @jeremylsinger.bsky.social on attendance research. Apply by Oct. 10, but flexible on start date! Please share!
Detroit PEER Postdoc Job Description 2025.pdf
drive.google.com
September 13, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Great job with an awesome team doing impactful work (and Detroit is super cool too!)
Accidentally just bit into an onion instead of an apple. I hope everyone is having a nice start to the semester!
September 11, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Accidentally just bit into an onion instead of an apple. I hope everyone is having a nice start to the semester!
We’re excited to launch the Secondary Transitions and Education Pathways in Career and Technical Education (STEP-CTE) website, featuring highlights and emerging research focused on Career and Technical Education!
Visit our page -> www.step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu
Visit our page -> www.step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu
September 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM
We’re excited to launch the Secondary Transitions and Education Pathways in Career and Technical Education (STEP-CTE) website, featuring highlights and emerging research focused on Career and Technical Education!
Visit our page -> www.step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu
Visit our page -> www.step-in-cte.soe.umich.edu
Excited to dig into this book by @cmpech.bsky.social on a topic we know far too little about:
June 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Excited to dig into this book by @cmpech.bsky.social on a topic we know far too little about:
Reposted by Walt Ecton
The position has a salary of $70,000 and can either be in Ann Arbor, MI, or remote. This is funded through IES, and we want to be transparent that it is contingent on continued funding. We'll start reviewing applications on June 12, so please submit before then! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Research Area Specialist Associate | U-M Careers
careers.umich.edu
May 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The position has a salary of $70,000 and can either be in Ann Arbor, MI, or remote. This is funded through IES, and we want to be transparent that it is contingent on continued funding. We'll start reviewing applications on June 12, so please submit before then! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Reposted by Walt Ecton
🚨Attention Job Seekers: We're hiring a quantitative researcher for a 1-year (possibly renewable for 2nd yr) position to study Career & Technical education! While not technically a postdoc, this would be a great fit for a recent PhD graduate! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Research Area Specialist Associate | U-M Careers
careers.umich.edu
May 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🚨Attention Job Seekers: We're hiring a quantitative researcher for a 1-year (possibly renewable for 2nd yr) position to study Career & Technical education! While not technically a postdoc, this would be a great fit for a recent PhD graduate! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
🚨Attention Job Seekers: We're hiring a quantitative researcher for a 1-year (possibly renewable for 2nd yr) position to study Career & Technical education! While not technically a postdoc, this would be a great fit for a recent PhD graduate! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Research Area Specialist Associate | U-M Careers
careers.umich.edu
May 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🚨Attention Job Seekers: We're hiring a quantitative researcher for a 1-year (possibly renewable for 2nd yr) position to study Career & Technical education! While not technically a postdoc, this would be a great fit for a recent PhD graduate! 🧵 careers.umich.edu/job_detail/2...
Reposted by Walt Ecton
There is no rational basis for Trump's attacks on Harvard (a private university). His latest will strike fear into the hearts of young international students. I was once in their shoes, and can imagine their feelings.
Congress: Come get your boy. He's attacking your country.
Congress: Come get your boy. He's attacking your country.
May 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
There is no rational basis for Trump's attacks on Harvard (a private university). His latest will strike fear into the hearts of young international students. I was once in their shoes, and can imagine their feelings.
Congress: Come get your boy. He's attacking your country.
Congress: Come get your boy. He's attacking your country.
Taking a break from my social media hiatus to publicly say that international students have long been the American economy's secret weapon. The best & brightest come here from all over the world, doing research, inventing technologies, starting our great businesses. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...
Trump Administration Halts Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Taking a break from my social media hiatus to publicly say that international students have long been the American economy's secret weapon. The best & brightest come here from all over the world, doing research, inventing technologies, starting our great businesses. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...
Reposted by Walt Ecton
In typical #AEFP2024 fashion, I got to spend my whole flight talking to a dear friend @tgoldring.bsky.social. Can’t wait to see more of you tomorrow. Even if we haven’t met, feel free to grab my attention to talk about the Student Upward Mobility Initiative RFP! studentupwardmobility.urban.org
Student Upward Mobility Initiative
studentupwardmobility.urban.org
March 14, 2024 at 2:32 AM
In typical #AEFP2024 fashion, I got to spend my whole flight talking to a dear friend @tgoldring.bsky.social. Can’t wait to see more of you tomorrow. Even if we haven’t met, feel free to grab my attention to talk about the Student Upward Mobility Initiative RFP! studentupwardmobility.urban.org
Hey #AEFP2024, a few LGBTQ+ Community Group events to check out (see replies for more!):
(1) Happy Hour on Friday from 5:30-7:00 at V-No Wine Bar, a LGBTQ+, Black, Woman-owned wine bar overlooking the harbor. We'll have lots of free food! 905 S Ann St. V-nofellspoint.com
(1) Happy Hour on Friday from 5:30-7:00 at V-No Wine Bar, a LGBTQ+, Black, Woman-owned wine bar overlooking the harbor. We'll have lots of free food! 905 S Ann St. V-nofellspoint.com
March 13, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Hey #AEFP2024, a few LGBTQ+ Community Group events to check out (see replies for more!):
(1) Happy Hour on Friday from 5:30-7:00 at V-No Wine Bar, a LGBTQ+, Black, Woman-owned wine bar overlooking the harbor. We'll have lots of free food! 905 S Ann St. V-nofellspoint.com
(1) Happy Hour on Friday from 5:30-7:00 at V-No Wine Bar, a LGBTQ+, Black, Woman-owned wine bar overlooking the harbor. We'll have lots of free food! 905 S Ann St. V-nofellspoint.com
Enjoyed talking to @edweek.bsky.social about the Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students to Careers Act, a new bipartisan bill by Tim Kaine & Todd Young (🧵1/3) www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
A Career Prep Bill Gets Bipartisan Support in the Senate. What’s in It?
New federal legislation would authorize state grants to bolster dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and other forms of on-the-job training.
www.edweek.org
February 13, 2024 at 2:11 PM
Enjoyed talking to @edweek.bsky.social about the Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students to Careers Act, a new bipartisan bill by Tim Kaine & Todd Young (🧵1/3) www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Some personal news - I'm very proud to share that I will be joining the faculty in the University of Michigan's Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education starting this summer.
February 8, 2024 at 9:38 PM
Some personal news - I'm very proud to share that I will be joining the faculty in the University of Michigan's Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education starting this summer.
"A high-quality education program needs to be opening doors to new paths for students, but we have to be very careful that it’s not closing doors for students as well." I enjoyed discussing new CTE-focused elementary school in N Carolina w/ @edweek.bsky.social: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
This District Wants to Start CTE in Elementary School, in a New Twist on Career Prep
It's believed to be the nation's first gaming and robotics magnet school for elementary-age students.
www.edweek.org
February 8, 2024 at 12:07 AM
"A high-quality education program needs to be opening doors to new paths for students, but we have to be very careful that it’s not closing doors for students as well." I enjoyed discussing new CTE-focused elementary school in N Carolina w/ @edweek.bsky.social: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Now is also a great time to sign up for @aefpweb.bsky.social 's LGBTQ+ community group mentor-matching program. LGBTQ+ grad students - sign up to get a mentor! Deadline is this Friday. See post in replies to sign up:
January 17, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Now is also a great time to sign up for @aefpweb.bsky.social 's LGBTQ+ community group mentor-matching program. LGBTQ+ grad students - sign up to get a mentor! Deadline is this Friday. See post in replies to sign up:
Just submitted my first IES proposal and now I would very much like a nap.
January 11, 2024 at 9:10 PM
Just submitted my first IES proposal and now I would very much like a nap.
New year, same whiteboard message...
January 10, 2024 at 7:42 PM
New year, same whiteboard message...
When I was in school, one time in class a student said the Confederacy was wrong in the Civil War because they were fighting for slavery. Our teacher said, "No, that's a common misunderstanding - the South was actually fighting for states' rights." 1/4
December 28, 2023 at 4:57 PM
When I was in school, one time in class a student said the Confederacy was wrong in the Civil War because they were fighting for slavery. Our teacher said, "No, that's a common misunderstanding - the South was actually fighting for states' rights." 1/4
Thanks to the Fordham Institute for this overview of my working paper on the relationship between high school Career and Technical Education coursetaking and coursetaking in other areas: fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
Does career and technical education still limit students’ academic opportunity?
Once a de facto means of maintaining within-school segregation, career and technical education (CTE) has, in recent years, experienced a favorable shift in public perception.
fordhaminstitute.org
December 7, 2023 at 6:15 PM
Thanks to the Fordham Institute for this overview of my working paper on the relationship between high school Career and Technical Education coursetaking and coursetaking in other areas: fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...