Systematic Review of College and Career Readiness Interventions for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Federal policy recommends College and Career Readiness (CCR) programs to ensure students are prepared for postsecondary life. CCR programs may be particularly important for students with, or at risk of, emotional behavior disorders (EBD) who experience poor school and postschool outcomes. This literature review examined CCR programs for secondary-age students with, or at risk of, EBD. After a systematic search, 14 articles were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Although all studies resulted in favorable outcomes in some areas, outcomes were not universally positive. Furthermore, the evaluation of study quality indicated the need for increased research rigor. The findings suggest additional research is needed to identify effective CCR components and ascertain specific intervention outcomes that can be expected. Limitations and implications for research and practice are described.