Blogs

Work-Based Learning Isn’t Broken. Our Design of It Is.

For decades, we’ve talked about the disconnect between school and work as if it were inevitable. As if learning must happen in one place, and “real life” in another. As if the best we can do is offer learners a brief glimpse into the world they’re supposedly preparing for. The gap between school and work isn’t natural. We designed it.

Beyond Random Acts: Rethinking Dual Enrollment as a Pathway Strategy

Dual enrollment isn’t remotely new; it dates back to the 1950s, when early programs were designed to challenge disengaged high school seniors who were ready for what was next. By the mid-1990s, dual enrollment began gaining national traction as a strategy to expand college access, reduce costs, and accelerate postsecondary attainment. 

From Hope to a Plan: Helping Learners Build Pathways that Lead Beyond High School

Hope is not a plan. But for too many learners, hope is all they’ve been given. Ask a group of high school juniors what they want to do after graduation, and you’ll probably hear a mix of ambition and uncertainty. Some will say college. Some may name a career field. Some will probably shrug. The desire is there. The potential is there. 

Beyond Career Day: Designing Exploration That Changes Trajectories

Walk into most districts, and you’ll find a familiar pattern: pathways beginning in high school. At this level, many teams are busy designing academies, revising schedules, forming business partnerships, and gaining access to college-in-high-school opportunities. Now, don’t misunderstand, these are all good things, but starting here means we’ve wasted an incredible opportunity.