Pathways to Possibility: Career-Connected High Schools

Explore the Career Connected Learning Framework

Education has long been the cornerstone of opportunity in this country, representing the embodiment of the “American Dream” by offering students a pathway to economic mobility, personal growth, and civic engagement.

Yet at a time when schools are grappling with the lasting impacts of the pandemic—learning loss, mental health crises, and widening opportunity gaps—the federal government is choosing to shrink its commitment to supporting our nation’s learners, using children as pawns for political gains only to jeopardize the future wellbeing of our students and nation.

The urgency to reimagine high schools has never been greater—our ever-changing world, increasing tensions on the role of schools in communities, artificial intelligence (AI), and technological advancement, and so much more are shaping a new future for our learners. Just a couple of years ago, work-based learning and pathway programs were “nice to have.” Now the narrative has changed. Fewer students are pursuing a four-year college degree and employers are struggling to find enough skilled workers. For the United States to remain competitive in a global marketplace, especially amid trade wars, innovation and investments in our education system that allow students to gain hands-on experience are critical for our survival.

The harm caused by the pandemic, threats to education spending, and the rise of AI cannot be fixed by approaching education through the same lens as years past. Today’s world demands bolder solutions. Recognizing this, the Biden Administration made significant investments in career-connected learning, granting more than $25 million for the Career Connected High School Grant program to strengthen pathways that bridge education and workforce opportunities.

High school is a critical time for students; their brains are still malleable and adaptable, and fertile grounds for innovation and exploration. At this age, students are still building the entire map of their inner worlds. They are not yet fixed in their mindsets or become jaded with the world. Their thinking is not yet limited. To them, the world is still full of necessary curiosity and ingenuity. They have an unfiltered drive to question, learn, grow, and pursue knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

This is why career-connected high schools and pathway programs are so vital. Career and technical education (CTE) programs are a core component of career-connected learning; they are not a new concept. In fact, CTE programs have deep historical roots in the United States, evolving alongside shifts in industry, education policy, and workforce needs. In the early 20th century, then-termed “vocational education” was formalized through the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917, which provided federal funding for training in agriculture, trades, and industry, establishing a framework for career preparation. Throughout the mid-20th century, vocational programs expanded with the Vocational Education Act of 1963, broadening the scope of and creating programs that were inclusive of traditional trades, alongside business, health, and technical fields. By the late 20th century, reforms such as the Perkins V Act emphasized integrating academic and technical skills, promoting industry partnerships, and expanding access to underserved students.

Now, modern CTE has transformed into a key lever in career-connected learning systems, with dual enrollment, work-based learning, and pathways leading to industry recognized credentialing and high-wage jobs in fields like health care, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. This evolution reflects a shift from a narrow focus on job training to a comprehensive approach that prepares students for both college and careers in an increasingly complex economy.

Building on the best of CTE, college and career pathways incorporate industry recognized credentials, dual enrollment, work-based learning, counseling and navigation, and intentional opportunities to build social capital. In doing so, college and career pathways offer students the opportunity to simultaneously gain technical skills while cultivating their critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, cultural awareness, and community engagement skills that are essential in an era of rapid technological advancement and artificial intelligence. At a global level, as AI and automation reshape the workforce, the need to prepare students with human skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making are increasingly valuable.

Furthermore, for those learners who are without the economic or social capital to access postsecondary education or industry options, college and career pathway programs is a form of exploration of what it means to reimagine an alternative future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Such efforts introduce them to careers they have not had exposure to and offer them the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. As a result of participating in these programs, college and career pathway programs instill hope, cultivate curiosity, and foster creative and critical thinking skills. Additionally, these programs also revitalize communities, bringing jobs back into communities and creating new economic opportunities for students to stay in the place that raised them. These programs empower students to develop in-demand skills, connect with local industries, and contribute to the economic growth of their hometowns ensuring they have the option to build their futures in their home communities.

Education is a public good; when we give students multiple pathways to success, our society improves. At All4Ed, we believe career-connected learning systems not only equip students with hands-on experience in high-demand fields like cybersecurity, health care, and advanced manufacturing, but it also opens doors to opportunities students may not yet know exist. As our world evolves, we must shift from a narrow focus on job training to a comprehensive approach that prepares students for both college and careers in an increasingly complex world. Students deserve to have rich and fulfilling educational experiences that inspire them to make more informed decisions for themselves. In doing right by our students, we invest in a system that values their potential, nurtures their aspirations, equips them with the tools to thrive in a world of continuous transformation, and strengthens our workforce to ensure the long-term success of our nation.