Strong coordination, alignment, and collaboration across all stakeholders in a pathways system—and effective legislation and policies in place—make students better prepared to enter and succeed in the labor market.
NETWORK MEMBER RESOURCES
Delaware Pathways Strategic Plan
Delaware Pathways is an education and workforce partnership that creates a career pathways system for all youth. This work spans secondary and postsecondary partners, and includes the integration of community-based organizations and workforce partners to ensure that all youth are successful in pursuing postsecondary education and gainful employment in line with "Delaware Promise" — ensuring that sixty-five percent of the state's workforce has a college degree or professional certificate by 2025
Leveraging Stimulus Funding and Public-Private Partnerships to Scale Pathways in Delaware
Over the next three years, Delaware Pathways will scale to reach 80 percent of high school students in the state—and expand to serve middle school students and create new opportunities for adults—by using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to match new philanthropic investments in the state’s pathways system.
Tennessee's Innovative High Schools
The Tennessee Department of Education, through the Tennessee Pathways initiative, is supporting partnerships between Tennessee public school districts, postsecondary education institutions, and local employers. The state is leveraging stimulus funding to invest $30 million in 21 school districts designing innovative high schools, and districts have the opportunity to apply for a waiver of policies that may create barriers to student success.
Montgomery County ESC Business Advisory Council 2020-2021 Joint Statement of Work
This joint statement of work from Montgomery County ESC’s Business Advisory Council outlines how they have brought together partners to stand up new career-connection opportunities for students, build deeper relationships with their region’s in-demand industries, and promote system-level change across their community.
From Today to Tomorrow: A Talent Roadmap to Support Economic Recovery in Hawai’i
This roadmap to economic recovery for the state of Hawai’i was developed over two months, with input from cross-sector stakeholders representing K-12, higher education, industry, philanthropy, state agencies, economic and workforce development, and other community members. This roadmap outlines how Hawai’i can rebuild its economy and build a talent pipeline that provides all of the state’s residents with access to education and training opportunities that lead to economic advancement. Doing so will require the development of career pathways strategies in three key emerging sectors: healthcare (including both clinical and community health), technology (including IT, biotechnology, and emerging clean energy occupations), and skilled trades (including manufacturing and sustainable agriculture.)Three core strategies to advance this work are expanding work-based learning, rapid reskilling and credentialing, and growing sector-based strategies. The successful implementation of these strategies will require stakeholders to act regionally, work across sectors, and target supports to those most in need.
JFF RESOURCES
While there is no one-size fits-all approach to leadership in college and career pathways systems, this report highlights important structures and commitments that contribute to strong leadership and governance systems.
American Rescue Plan Funds Can Transform Education for Young Adults
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides states with an unprecedented opportunity to use federal stimulus funds for innovative new educational programs supporting students who have fallen behind—including the millions of high school students who disappeared from schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Equitably allocating and effectively spending ARPA funds for education is no small feat for states and localities. JFF and the National Governors Association put together a list of funding strategies that states can adopt to effectively support the students who are most in need.
Leveraging Perkins V to Support College and Career Pathways
The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) can directly advance the national college and career pathways movement. In this brief, JFF offers practical recommendations to help state policymakers leverage the law to better prepare all students for future success.
Intermediaries' Role in Policy to Develop and Scale Equitable Pathways
Implementing pathways requires deep collaboration among leaders across K-12 and higher education, industry, workforce development, and government. This brief illustrates the power intermediaries have to influence policy so they can be more effective in supporting their partners and driving positive change in their communities and across their states.