Adriana Harrington is the Managing Director of Policy for ExcelinEd.
Florida has earned a national reputation as a champion for learner-centered policies, crafting an educational landscape where every student can succeed. In recent years, state policymakers have dedicated significant effort to aligning K-12, postsecondary and workforce systems—a move designed to equip high school students with tools to transition smoothly into their next chapter.
Central to this push is the creation of a publicly accessible data dashboard required under the 2021 Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act.
To design a dashboard that meets the needs of students and families, policymakers need to understand their goals, challenges and the information they value most. To that end, ExcelinEd recently released in a comprehensive report, “Florida Pathways: College and Career Dashboards and Student Experience.”
The report provides our analysis in two parts: a review of current data dashboards in Florida that relate to post-high school success and a comprehensive survey of students, parents and recent graduates to learn more about their needs. Model school districts also were interviewed to find out how they are implementing college and career preparation.
Florida currently hosts multiple data dashboards spread across several agencies, including the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), the Florida Department of Commerce and various local workforce boards. We looked at 11 of them for this report.
These dashboards provide windows into the opportunities and outcomes linked with different college and career pathways. However, the system is far from unified. Legacy dashboards that are outdated still remain online, and some dashboards are, in practice, not accessible to everyone. This fragmented environment means that the comprehensive, user-friendly dashboard envisioned under the 2021 REACH Act has yet to materialize. Two key platforms stand out in this landscape:
Perhaps the best way to find out how people are using a product—and whether it’s working well for them—is to ask them directly. That’s why we partnered with a research firm to get information from students, parents and recent graduates. That outreach included an online survey, focus groups and questionnaires to learn more about how these tools are currently being used and the impact they have on planning future pathways.
Xello’s Mixed Success: While students and graduates who have used Xello, the state’s official workforce planning platform, report feeling better prepared for life after high school and are more confident in achieving their career goals, adoption is notably low. Fewer than 20% of high school students reported engaging with the platform. This gap suggests that while the tool is effective for those who use it, many students are not yet reaping its benefits.
The Value of Career & Technical Education: Focus group discussions revealed that both current students and recent graduates value career and technical education (CTE) as well as work-based learning opportunities. However, approximately one in five students reported limited or no access to such programs. These opportunities have been linked to higher confidence levels among students, yet many remain underutilized.
High Demand for Information: Survey respondents underscored a strong desire for clear, comparative information on different college and career pathways. Details such as program duration and cost are critical to families when making decisions about postsecondary education.
Accessibility Challenges: One of the most significant obstacles identified was the difficulty in accessing critical information. Parents and college marketing materials are primary sources of information, and only slightly more than half of the students reported receiving comprehensive guidance on post-high school pathways.
Engagement Through Planning: Students who have developed a comprehensive pathway plan are more engaged. They are more likely to find available information useful, participate in college and career preparation programs and receive support from educators and guidance professionals.
Mismatch in Support Systems: More than half of students have a post-high school plan. Roughly a third of current students plan to immediately pursue a bachelor’s degree, while more than a quarter plan to pursue a technical training program, join the military, begin an apprenticeship or directly enter the workforce after graduating high school. Yet many students in this group report not receiving the support they need because coursework and counseling are largely aimed at college preparation.
Based on these insights, the report offers several recommendations aimed at transforming Florida’s dashboard ecosystem to better serve students and their families.
Transparency Through Public Usage Data: We recommend making school-level and district-level Xello usage data publicly available. Given that the state funds access for every student, publishing these data would not only enhance transparency but also create a feedback loop for schools and policymakers. This openness could drive increased adoption, ensuring that more students benefit from the platform.
Integration of Pathways Planning and Dashboard Data: Policymakers should consider embedding Florida’s future state data dashboard within the existing Xello platform. By combining career planning tools with critical data insights, students and parents could have a one-stop portal that streamlines access to information about different postsecondary pathways. This integration would simplify the user experience and ensure that planning and data analysis occur in tandem.
Public Accessibility of the CTE Audit: The state’s annual CTE Audit, which reviews secondary and postsecondary career and technical education offerings, contains valuable information on program alignment and quality. Making the results of this audit publicly accessible would provide families and schools with a clearer picture of available programs, helping guide decisions based on program quality and alignment with career goals.
Increased Engagement with Businesses and Intermediaries: To build a more personalized career advisement system and expand work-based learning opportunities, the report recommends forging stronger public-private partnerships. By creating incentives for intermediary organizations and engaging local businesses, Florida can provide more robust, hands-on learning experiences. These partnerships could include state grants for intermediary programs, prioritization of schools that effectively implement Xello and incentives for teachers who develop work-based learning opportunities.
Leveraging Local Government Resources: Particularly in rural areas, local governments are among the largest employers. The report suggests that these entities be leveraged as venues for work-based learning. Offering summer stipends for teachers to develop guidelines and support for these programs could create a more direct pipeline between students and local job opportunities, ensuring that every student has access to practical, real-world experiences.
As Florida develops its new data dashboard, there are a few states that may help inform that process based on work they already have done in this space.
Tennessee (CollegeforTN.org): Tennessee’s CollegeforTN.org provides a user-friendly, student-focused platform designed to guide learners through college and career planning. The dashboard offers interactive tools to explore postsecondary options, financial aid and career pathways, making it a valuable resource for students, parents and educators. By integrating clear, actionable steps, Tennessee ensures that students can easily navigate their path beyond high school.
Indiana (Graduates Prepared to Succeed): Indiana’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS) dashboard offers a clear and intuitive framework based on three pillars: employment, enlistment and enrollment. This structure makes it easy for policymakers, schools and families to understand student outcomes and workforce alignment. While still evolving, GPS is helping Indiana track how well graduates are prepared for life after high school in a way that prioritizes transparency and usability.
Kentucky (KYStats): Kentucky’s KYStats platform is a powerhouse of education and workforce data, offering one of the most comprehensive data repositories in the country. While not directly student-facing, it provides insights for policymakers, researchers and education leaders to analyze long-term trends and workforce outcomes. By linking education and labor market data, KYStats helps Kentucky shape policies that align educational pathways with economic opportunities.
Ensuring students have access to quality college and career planning and in a streamlined, easy-to-use dashboard that provides data for policymakers, educators and parents to use is an area of improvement for all states.
The insights drawn from the ExcelinEd report provide a valuable blueprint for policymakers aiming to refine Florida’s education and career pathway planning system. The current array of disparate dashboards illustrates both the promise and the challenges of using data to drive educational outcomes. On one hand, platforms like Xello and Employ Florida have made strides providing career planning tools and labor market insights. On the other hand, the limited adoption of these tools, coupled with accessibility challenges, highlights the need for improvement.
Integrating these systems into a unified, publicly accessible dashboard could fundamentally transform how students plan their futures. With real-time data, comprehensive planning tools, and enhanced transparency, students and families could make more informed decisions. This approach would not only support students in crafting detailed, personalized pathways but also ensure that the state’s significant investments in career and technical education translate into tangible outcomes.
As Florida continues to innovate in the area of learner-centered policy, the recommendations offered in this report can serve as a roadmap for success. By embracing these changes, policymakers can help ensure that every student—regardless of their chosen path—has the opportunity to build a rewarding career and a brighter future.
For the landscape analysis, we looked at 11 existing Florida dashboards that support pathway planning, scrutinizing key aspects such as target users, major functionalities, data presented and practical use cases. This initial review provided a clear picture of the varied tools available and underscored the need for a more unified, accessible system as envisioned by the 2021 REACH Act.
ExcelinEd partnered with Edge Research to further explore the perceptions and experiences of those directly impacted by these resources. Together, we conducted interviews, focus groups and an online survey of public high school students, parents of 7th–12th graders and recent graduates. The survey was designed to capture a comprehensive view of future plans, available pathways opportunities and the ease of accessing vital information and resources related to learner pathways.
A total of 1,237 participants contributed to the study, comprising 414 high school students (with 213 juniors and 201 seniors), 415 parents, and 408 recent graduates. This diverse sample helped ensure that the findings were reflective of the broader community’s experiences and needs. The survey was made available in both English and Spanish to accommodate Florida’s diverse population.
The survey was fielded from September 16 to October 15, 2024, capturing timely insights on various topics. Participants provided feedback on gaps in pathway resources, their reactions to existing pathway data, their awareness and usage of platforms and their preferred messengers and communication channels.
Beyond the survey, Edge Research conducted interviews with model school districts to understand how they are implementing college and career preparation advising. These discussions offered additional context and highlighted innovative practices in preparing students for postsecondary success.
Florida has long been committed to a learner-centered education system. Creating a comprehensive, data-driven dashboard for college and career pathways is part of that commitment. However, the current landscape—marked by scattered, outdated or inaccessible dashboards—underscores the need for a more integrated, user-friendly approach.
With targeted improvements such as transparent usage data, platform integration and strengthened public-private partnerships, Florida can transform its dashboard ecosystem into a powerful tool that puts students and parents in the driver’s seat. Ultimately, these enhancements will not only improve access to information but also help guide students toward fulfilling and successful futures.
