Permission Granted, Progress Lost?: What We Risk In an Era of Waivers (S2 E3)

For over a decade, the pathways movement promised to bridge K-12, postsecondary education, and careers—opening doors for young people far from opportunity. But what if we’ve been building pathways that actually close more doors than they open? In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Cahill and Kyle Hartung, Senior Advisors at All4Ed, to explore some uncomfortable truths about where pathways are headed. Too many pathways have become narrowly focused on job training and short-term credentials, funneling students—especially those furthest from opportunity—into linear routes that can lead to dead ends. Charlotte and Kyle challenge us to think bigger: What if we designed pathways that honor young people’s complexity and aspirations? What if we stopped presenting false choices between college and career, between purpose and paycheck, between self-determination and economic security? And what would it take to build pathways systems that actually expand opportunity rather than replicate the tracking systems of decades past? Join us for a conversation about the urgent need for a course correction—and what it will take to create pathways that truly serve all students.