Pathways Resource Library

This study examines recent community college student's motivations for enrolling, their self-reported perceptions of the value of their education and training experiences, and the degree to which they achieved their goals for enrolling. The outcomes they pursue range from skill development to certificates to degrees to transfer. Fewer than half of career seeking students report that their education helped them fulfill these motivations, or develop the skills needed for their subsequent outcomes such as critical thinking, communication or leadership. Additionally, the report finds that students are less likely to feel their education was worth the cost of that it helped them achieve their goals.

This resource provides tangible data points on employer attitudes toward Career Technical Education (CTE) and the positive return on investment CTE experiences provide for business and economic growth. Based on a national survey of more than 300 professionals actively involved in hiring decisions in in-demand fields, these new findings demonstrate that employers strongly support and see direct value in CTE. The findings also indicate that employer recognition and support for skills-focused hiring is growing and that employers back a greater public investment in CTE programs.

This survey explores the perspectives and experiences of those in closest contact with the American education system—namely parents, current students, and recent graduates. In partnership with YouGov, American Compass surveyed representative American parents young adults about their views on the purpose of public education; their reflections on the way that the school system has performed; and their desire for reforms to both K–12 schools and higher education. They found that Americans want (1) a public education system less focused on college, more focused on preparing people to build decent lives in their communities, and (2) education reforms to emphasize non-college pathways.

The 2023 American Opportunity Index evaluated nearly 400 large U.S. firms to produce key findings on how firms maximize their internal talent to drive corporate performance and the growth of their employees. It also raised significant disparities in promotion and retention among companies and underscores the business choice in talent management practices. Among their key findings are that large companies that excel in employee retention save up to $400 million annually on turnover costs, primarily by offering promotion opportunities and competitive wages. Additionally, top companies are 2.5 times more likely to promote employees and pay 68% more for the same roles, benefiting corporate performance and worker growth.

Pathways Narrative is a cohort-based pilot project focused on the education and career pathways space. Each of the nine organizations in the cohort works with dedicated strategists from Wonder: Strategies for Good to develop a narrative change research project that aligns with and advances the organization’s goals. Get to know the cohort partners here, and explore the many possible approaches to narrative change.

Pathways that respond to the unique needs of—and opportunities in—rural communities are a critical strategy to support youth and advance economic development. This framework outlines key considerations and promising strategies for pathways leaders who seek to achieve equitable outcomes for youth while strengthening rural communities.

This report looks at how people make decisions regarding higher education through “Jobs-to-be-Done” theory which interrogates and exposes the real reasons people make personal choices, from buying a milk shake to make life-changing decisions. The analysis based on this theory, provides important insights, both for college-bound students and their families, but also institutions of higher education, many of which might be tooling themselves to perform the wrong job.

This Message Manual contains research-based language and guidance for anyone communicating about racial justice and equity in education. The manual introduces a Racial Justice and Racial Equity Frame that provides guidance for communicating about justice and equity in aspirational ways that move beyond buzzwords and invite new audiences into the conversation. The guide provides research-tested language and specific examples of how to apply the frame when sharing data, crafting story-driven content, and tailoring messages for different audiences.