Why Cutting Career-Connected High School Funding Fails Our Students and Future

For generations, education has been the cornerstone of opportunity in this country, an engine for economic mobility, and a critical part of achieving the American Dream.” It promises that every young person, regardless of their zip code, can achieve a better future. But that promise feels increasingly out of reach. 

On July 29, the U.S Department of Education notified recipients of the Perkins Innovation and Modernization (PIMs) grant program that funding would be discontinued. PIM funds Career Connected High Schools, an initiative that supports partnerships among school districts, institutions of higher education, and employers to provide learners with high quality college and career pathways.  In the official note, the Department stated that continuation of these grants was “not in the best interest of the Federal Government.”

This decision comes just as the first cohort of grantees was beginning to lay the foundation for transformative work connecting classrooms to careers and creating clear, supported pathways to postsecondary success. Now, without an explanation or continued support, districts may be forced to disband newly launched programs and lose dedicated educators, disrupting student access to college credit, industry credentials, and work-based learning opportunities precisely when momentum was beginning to build.

The Trump administration’s decision to eliminate funding for the PIM program contradicts previous public support for career-focused education, particularly in STEM fields — and it undermines the president’s own executive order on “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.” By cutting this funding, the administration threatens one of the most forward-thinking education efforts in recent years and weakens the role of education as a bridge to economic opportunity and workforce readiness.The Career-Connected High Schools initiative represents precisely the kind of pragmatic, results-oriented education policy that should transcend partisan politics. The program’s focus on career guidance, dual enrollment, work-based learning, and industry-recognized credentials addresses real workforce needs while expanding educational opportunities. 

What Is the Career-Connected High School Initiative?

The Career-Connected High School initiative represents a bold federal investment in the future of education and workforce development. Through competitive grants that foster partnerships between school districts, colleges, and employers, the initiative is transforming the last two years of high school into a powerful launchpad for postsecondary success and career readiness. 

Backed by a $25 million appropriation from Congress in FY 2023, this initiative is catalyzing systemic change. Grounded in four evidence-based pillars 1. postsecondary and career navigation, 2. dual enrollment, 3. work-based learning, and 4. industry-recognized credentials, the program ensures that students graduate not only with a diploma but with a clear, supported pathway to economic opportunity. With strategic, cross-sector collaboration and a strong return on investment, the Career-Connected High School Initiative is reimagining what high school can be.

Why Investing in Career-Connected High Schools Matters

In an era defined by rapid technological change and evolving workforce demands, Career-Connected High School programs are redefining what a high school experience can look like, cultivating the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders. Research consistently shows that aligning high school with postsecondary education  expands access to college, boosts completion rates, reduces time to degree, and lowers student debt. Students who earn college credit in high school are significantly more likely to persist in higher education and earn a postsecondary credential. 

It is time we accept that our world has changed; today, a high school diploma does not hold the same weight it did twenty years ago. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 72% of jobs will require some form of postsecondary education and/or training, Academic instruction remains essential but it is not enough. To truly prepare young people for the future, we must also provide early exposure to careers, opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials, and access to real-world, hands-on learning that mirrors the demands of the modern economy.

That’s why programs like Career-Connected High Schools are so important.

These initiatives support a learning model that blends academics with career and college readiness, allowing students a chance to explore high-demand fields, gain hands-on experience, and begin earning credentials before they graduate high school. 

We’ve seen firsthand how powerful these programs can be. This spring All4Ed staff conducted site visits to recipients of the Career Connected High School grant and saw this vision turn into a reality. 

In South Bend, Indiana, where retaining young talent has long been a challenge, PIM grant funding has helped transform local high school CTE programs into credential programs aligned with regional labor market needs. A concerted effort between the regional Chamber of Commerce, CTE directors, and local employers has enabled students to gain hands-on experience in aviation, healthcare, and radio broadcasting, fields that are not only growing but helping to bring good-paying jobs and renewed economic vitality to the region. These career-connected programs integrate work-based learning, dual credit, and industry-aligned coursework.

In San Antonio, Texas, Highlands P-TECH staff and CTE directors have collaborated with higher education institutions and industry leaders to revitalize their education programs and ensure that students graduate with rigorous academic requirements and industry-relevant skills and credentials. In partnership with St. Phillips College, Highland P-TECH has designed and structured career-connected programs that ensure students gain dual credit and a credential. For example, to successfully complete the Manufacturing Pathway students take courses in basic-fluid power, robotic fundamentals, electromechanical devices and must complete and earn industry certifications.

Both programs demonstrate how federal investments have enabled school systems to think strategically and long-term about what today’s students will need to thrive in tomorrow’s economy. And these are just two examples of the Career Connected High Schools that are implementing grants in 16 states and the District of Columbia. With the help of federal funding, grantees had begun to reimagine the very structure and purpose of a high school education. These programs embody a commitment to bold, forward thinking visions aimed at preparing students to graduate with meaningful postsecondary credentials,  real-world work experience and a clearer pathway to college and career. 

What’s at Stake 

High school is a critical window when students are still shaping their identities, still open to who they might become. We owe it to them to provide experiences that spark curiosity, build skills, and expand their sense of what’s possible. Career Connected High School programs have been exactly that, a model for curiosity and innovation. Defunding Career-Connected High Schools isn’t just a budget decision. It’s a step backward for innovation, equity, and the future of our workforce. 

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