A clear and bold heading

The moral and economic imperative to prepare students for successful careers has never been more clear.

A growing body of evidence shows that career pathways programs lead to improved outcomes in high school, postsecondary education, and employment. But these programs only succeed when K-12 education, higher education, employers, and other governmental, private, and nonprofit sector stakeholders work together effectively. This is no easy feat.

Drawing on our experience supporting over 100 career pathways initiatives, we’ve distilled 7 key lessons for U.S. policymakers, funders, and system leaders.

Underlying these lessons is a central realization that “career pathways” is not a policy to be enacted, nor a single program model to be adopted—it represents a fundamental shift in how governments, educators, businesses, and civil society organizations must work together as a single, coherent system. 

What's Inside the Report?

☑️ Guidance for policymakers and funders building career pathways systems
☑️ Practical insights to move from policy ambition to real-world delivery
☑️ Common implementation challenges—and how to solve them
☑️ Real-world examples from across the United States