Improving Student Pathways to College and Careers

With Corporation support, a new initiative aims to redesign and realign education with career pathways

By Carnegie Corporation of New York March 6, 2023
Future of Learning & Work
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A guidance counselor helps a ninth grader prepare for college and career in a Boston high school in 2019. (Credit: Craig F. Walkter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

What is sometimes referred to as the U.S. postsecondary education system is actually highly fragmented, with students experiencing a disconnect between high school, college and non-college higher education programs, and the world of work. From the challenges of transferring to a four-year college from a community college to barriers and a lack of information regarding postsecondary options, some students end up with unfinished degrees and hard-to-pay debt, while others end up with a credential that has limited value in terms of employment. These challenges are especially acute for Black, Latinx, and lower-income learners. 

“We need to expand and strengthen college and career pathways so that all young people have access to postsecondary options that prepare them for thriving futures. We’ve seen pockets of innovation that can guide us toward that vision, but isolated progress is not enough, especially when it comes to historically marginalized students.”

LaVerne Srinivasan

In collaboration with a group of peer funders, Carnegie Corporation of New York is supporting five leading organizations — Advance CTE, Education Strategy Group, ExcelinEd, Jobs for the Future (JFF), and New America — as they partner with state education and workforce agencies, K–12 districts, postsecondary institutions, policymakers, and business leaders to improve options and outcomes for all students through Launch: Equitable & Accelerated Pathways for All. 

“We need to expand and strengthen college and career pathways so that all young people have access to postsecondary options that prepare them for thriving futures. We’ve seen pockets of innovation that can guide us toward that vision, but isolated progress is not enough, especially when it comes to historically marginalized students,” said LaVerne Srinivasan, vice president of the National Program and program director of Education at the Corporation. “Carnegie Corporation of New York is proud to support Launch because it aims higher, bringing education and community leaders together to collectively redesign and realign education with employment as an engine of opportunity for all.”

The initiative involves eleven geographically diverse teams of state, regional, and local leaders. Two teams focused on innovation and impact will evaluate current college and career pathways, develop strategic action plans, look at barriers, and develop solutions for some of the most pressing challenges. 

With the aim of providing access for every learner to college and career pathways, Launch will:

  • drive a national agenda for college and career pathways
  • work with state and local partnerships to tackle entrenched inequities in education and the workforce
  • advance policies and strategies that help achieve greater scale and sustainability
  • seed and develop models to transform career pathways and dismantle entrenched barriers for economic advancement.

Check out the webinar below to learn more about how the initiative will design, scale, and sustain high-quality and equitable college and career pathways that are built to last.

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