Today’s students are being cheated out of opportunities to succeed. They are leaving K-12 and postsecondary systems without the relevant skills and knowledge needed to compete in today’s rapidly changing economy. That’s true of current workers who need new skills, too. Now is the time to connect K-12 education, college and training programs with America’s workforce needs.
There is a way to achieve that. Beginning in K-12 and extending through postsecondary and employment, ExcelinEd’s Pathways Matter tackles the fragmented education to workforce policy efforts in states and transforms them into a comprehensive policy continuum. The 20 state- and learner-centered polices explained in Pathways Matter—if implemented with fidelity by policymakers, school leaders and employers–will build a highly skilled, educated and in-demand workforce.
Pathways Matter is the first and only comprehensive suite of policy solutions, research and case studies created for this level of change in education.
Need specific examples? Pathways Matter takes you on three Learner Journeys, showcasing how individual learners have benefited from a robust policy continuum on their pathway from education to workforce. Each journey illustrates how supports and specific policies help these learners overcome barriers to reach their goals.
Need real-world proof? Pathways Matter includes 10 State Case Studies, each with an analysis of how the policy continuum is currently being implemented. Each case study identifies what policies are in place in each of these states and offers opportunities for growth. States included are Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Lifelong success for every student means preparing them for higher-wage, higher-skill, in-demand careers, with the skills and training to achieve their goals. That’s only possible when K-12 education is aligned with postsecondary systems and workforce needs. Pathways Matter shows policymakers how to make that a reality.
Dee Bagwell Haslam
ExcelinEd Board Member & CEO, Haslam Sports Group and Partner/Executive Producer, RIVR Media
Building clear pathways to better connect what is learned in school with what is actually needed in the workplace can help prepare students for a lifetime of success. We want all students to be workforce ready. Pathways Matter helps show us the way.
Janet Ayers
ExcelinEd Board Member & President, The Ayers Foundation
Pathways Matter’s Policy Continuum includes 20 key policies within six focus areas.
For more on how to build the workforce of the future, visit PathwaysMatter.org.
