Pathways Matter

Pathways Matter establishes the first comprehensive learner-centered education to workforce continuum for state policy. Beginning in K-12 and extending to and through postsecondary and on to employment, Pathways Matter, takes the fragmented narrative and structure of state education to workforce policy efforts and turns it into a comprehensive policy continuum.  

On PathwaysMatter.org you can

On ExcelinEd.org/PathwaysMatter you can

Why is this work so important now?

In many states only one or two areas of education to workforce pathway policies are addressed by policymakers each year. Though this strategy has helped get the work off the ground, it’s simply not enough. Policymakers need an understanding of the full ecosystem of K-12, postsecondary and workforce strategies, policies, programs, supports and data to prioritize which area to tackle next.

Who are the stakeholders? What are the policies? Where should we start? These are just a few of the questions Pathways Matter answers.


Project Principles & Findings

Project Principles

Learners take different educational journeys. While some learners seamlessly transition from K-12 to postsecondary to employment, others use on-ramps and off-ramps and stackable opportunities to complete their journey. Still others need critical support to find a new occupation or advance their careers. 

Pathways require coordinated support from all stakeholders. High-quality pathways do not operate in isolation and neither should the agencies, policymakers, education systems, intermediaries, employers and communities who support them. Stakeholders must work together to ensure that learners can earn valuable credentials and succeed in high-wage, high-skill occupations. 

Policies must work together to maximize benefits for learners. Learners span age levels, systems of education and workforce areas. Policies that support them need to be integrated as well so that progress made at one level or system is not slowed or stopped at another

Key Findings for Policy Change in States

Though Pathways Matter is not an analysis of all states, the following themes emerged from our in-depth state case studies and research on key policy state examples.  

Learner Pathways: While all states have career and technical education programs, too few are targeting funding and conducting audits to ensure that these pathways are aligned to high-demand, high-skill and high-wage occupations.  States that are making the most progress in setting and implementing shared cross-agency priorities for high-quality pathways are doing so through new, integrated governance structures (e.g., governors workforce offices or cabinets, combined agencies, etc.).​

Postsecondary Acceleration: States have made significant progress in providing a range of college acceleration options to students. However, there is still a need for states to collect and analyze data relate to success, equity and alignment with postsecondary credential programs.​ Too many states lack a coordinated statewide policy for awarding credit for prior learning. Instead, they rely in individual institutions to determine awards, resulting in a patchwork of policies for learners and an overall lack of transparency.

Postsecondary Credential Attainment: Outcomes-based funding is common across postsecondary institutions; however, the metrics are varied and can muddy the impact of such incentives. Too few are leveraging outcome metrics such as job placement after credential attainment and long-term graduate wage earnings.

Workforce Readiness: Work-based learning is arguably a priority for many states, but too many states lack clearly defined expectations for quality for student experiences. 

Employer Engagement: Thinking creatively about how to remove legal barriers to employer engagement is an opportunity for many states, with a low fiscal note.

Continuum Alignment and Quality Indicators: Data collection, connection, and use associated with desired outcomes is missing across too many state policies and programs. This is both a function of lagging data systems and lack of shared definitions for quality and success.​

“A quality education gives students the foundation they need to earn success. That opportunity is strengthened when K-12, postsecondary and workforce systems are well aligned to today’s 21st century economy. Pathways Matter is the roadmap to achieve alignment, with state-driven policies that build career pathways and allow all students to rise.”

Governor Jeb Bush

Founder and Chairman, ExcelinEd

“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

President, The Ayers Foundation

“Pathways Matter is a powerful new resource to strengthen every student’s path into college, career training and workforce readiness. Policymakers can use this to effect real change in their states.”

Eric Cantor

Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Moelis & Company, & former House Majority Leader

“Launching students from K-12 through postsecondary and into high-skill, high-wage, high-demand careers requires policies that align education systems with workforce needs. Pathways Matter shows states how.”

Chris Cerf

Former New Jersey Commissioner of Education

“Pathways Matter is a comprehensive set of policies to guide state leaders on improving their education to workforce systems. Students and businesses both stand to gain when programs are aligned to prepare young people for higher-skill, higher-wage, in-demand opportunities.”

Patricia Levesque

CEO, ExcelinEd

“Pathways Matter outlines the policies needed to connect students with career preparation and long-term success. It includes relevant case studies from states across the nation to inspire change.”

Gary Chartrand

Executive Chairman of Acosta & Board Chair of KIPP: Jacksonville Schools

“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

CEO, Haslam Sports Group and Partner/Executive Producer, RIVR Media

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce. Pathways Matter shows policymakers how to build roads for everyone into meaningful careers and successful futures.”

Susana Martinez

31st Governor of New Mexico

News & Resources


Project Team & Collaborators

“Having a comprehensive, cohesive system will ensure stronger implementation of Tennessee’s policy framework, address inequities and better prepare students for the workforce opportunities available today and in the future.”

Samantha Gutter

Senior Director, Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education

“Pathways are the architecture that makes our loosely coupled education and training systems more aligned to each other and to labor market needs – especially for Black, Latino, and low-income students who too often are failed by the current gaps in systems.”

Joel Vargas

Vice President, JFF

“Pathways benefit entire communities as they are a critical component to outlining in clear and actionable ways how we can support students and workers throughout their journeys as they navigate the changing workforce landscape.”

Romanita Matta-Barrera

Executive Director, SA Works and EVP of Workforce Development at SAEDF

“Educational attainment is the gateway to upward mobility for our citizens! To achieve higher levels of education, we must provide a seamless pathway that is easy to navigate by all. With siloed governance structures, having policies that cross the education to workforce continuum – across all education and workforce systems – is critical for the success of our students navigating through each system independently. With a long view of our students and employers, the connective tissue of a policy continuum and associated resource investments will lead to better efficiency and higher outcomes.”

Cecilia Holden

CEO and President, myFutureNC

“We know that the solutions for today’s biggest problems will be built by innovative and agile learners. We must create systems and pathways for them that connect learners to exploration, exposure, practice, and skill building all the way along the continuum. These pathways require a user-centered designed, where students can build transferable skills and develop the competencies and experiences required so that they can live a life without limits.”

Shannon Nicholas

Chief of Staff, Colorado Succeeds

“Career pathways help match education and workplace needs through partnerships with postsecondary institutions, LEAs, business, and industry. A connected approach to this work is essential to ensure that students can move seamlessly through education and obtain the credentials of value necessary to enter the workforce.”

Thalea Longhurst

State Director Career & Technical Education, Utah State Board of Education

Meet the ExcelinEd Policy Experts

Thanks to Our Education to Workforce Advisory Group

ExcelinEd partnered with 13 experts across K-12, postsecondary and the workforce in the development of Pathways Matter. The advisory group provided essential feedback and guidance throughout the process and helped ExcelinEd: