Pathways Resource Library
Tools to help people understand their options
Explore messaging, research, and resources from across the field—along with customizable, white-label tools that you can adapt, brand as your own, and use in your organization’s communications—to help you reach key audiences with language that builds confidence and expands what’s possible.
Toolkit
Roadtrip Nation Storytelling Toolkit
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This storytelling toolkit outlined the fundamentals of Road Trip Nation's storytelling approach, developed over two decades of co-creating these stories with young people, so that other nonprofits and impact-minded organizations can amplify young people’s voices and stories in their own work.
Research Report
Education at a Crossroads
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
High school graduates no longer see the traditional 4-year college pathway as their only postsecondary option, according to the latest research from YouScience®. This report contains insights into pathways students are choosing instead, where they turn for influence and guidance, and where there are opportunities for improvement. The report includes data and solutions for:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) awareness.
- Post-graduation satisfaction.
- Educator/student interactions.
- Counselor impact.
- Aptitude discovery.
Toolkit
Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource includes a set of skills-based hiring toolkits that include a skills-based job-posting, interview questions, and onboarding plans. Each Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit is packed with valuable resources that will help you transform your hiring strategy.
Toolkit
Communications Toolkit: Postsecondary Pathways and The Shifting American Economy.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
A toolkit communicating pathways with students and families. it includes: a) how different pathways can look like; b) how pathway career ladder can look like; c) how pathway support systems can look like.
Playbook or Guidebook
Building a Communications and Marketing Strategy in a State or Institution for Incremental Credentialing
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Communications and marketing are critical in the effort to transform the nation’s degree-centric postsecondary model to an incremental credentialing system. To support such a major transformation, communications and marketing are needed at three levels: state and institution Wide, individual credential and program levels, and nationwide. This Playbook focuses on the first of these.
Research Report
Pathways Matter to Families: What Parents and Young Adults Believe and Want to Know About Education to Workforce Pathways
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Pathways Matter to Families offers insights and actionable resources for students and families. The two complementary resources linked are informed by original research investigating what parents and young adults think and want to know about education-to-workforce pathways and experiences.
Article
What it will take to change the narrative about career education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
The article discusses the growing issue of young Americans aged 18-24 not engaging in college or work, exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite high job vacancies, there's skepticism toward non-college education and job-training programs. The article highlights policy recommendations to integrate workforce training and higher education, stressing that both traditional and non-degree credentials are essential for economic mobility. The purpose is to advocate for a broader, more inclusive approach to postsecondary education and workforce training, aiming to enhance economic opportunities for all.
Research Report
Hispanic STARs: Smart Employers Aim for Hispanic STARs
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This report highlights the significant presence of Hispanic workers who are skilled through alternative routes (STARs) in the workforce and their overrepresentation in lower-wage occupations. It discusses the barriers these workers face due to degree requirements and suggests that employers prioritize skills over formal education to improve economic mobility for Hispanic STARs.
Playbook or Guidebook
Shifting the Skills Conversation: Employer Attitudes on and Outcomes for Career Technical Education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Shifting the Skills Conversation: Employer Attitudes and Outcomes of Career Technical Education 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 and supports
Filters
Toolkit
Roadtrip Nation Storytelling Toolkit
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This storytelling toolkit outlined the fundamentals of Road Trip Nation's storytelling approach, developed over two decades of co-creating these stories with young people, so that other nonprofits and impact-minded organizations can amplify young people’s voices and stories in their own work.
Research Report
Education at a Crossroads
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
High school graduates no longer see the traditional 4-year college pathway as their only postsecondary option, according to the latest research from YouScience®. This report contains insights into pathways students are choosing instead, where they turn for influence and guidance, and where there are opportunities for improvement. The report includes data and solutions for:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) awareness.
- Post-graduation satisfaction.
- Educator/student interactions.
- Counselor impact.
- Aptitude discovery.
Toolkit
Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource includes a set of skills-based hiring toolkits that include a skills-based job-posting, interview questions, and onboarding plans. Each Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit is packed with valuable resources that will help you transform your hiring strategy.
Toolkit
Communications Toolkit: Postsecondary Pathways and The Shifting American Economy.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
A toolkit communicating pathways with students and families. it includes: a) how different pathways can look like; b) how pathway career ladder can look like; c) how pathway support systems can look like.
Playbook or Guidebook
Building a Communications and Marketing Strategy in a State or Institution for Incremental Credentialing
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Communications and marketing are critical in the effort to transform the nation’s degree-centric postsecondary model to an incremental credentialing system. To support such a major transformation, communications and marketing are needed at three levels: state and institution Wide, individual credential and program levels, and nationwide. This Playbook focuses on the first of these.
Research Report
Pathways Matter to Families: What Parents and Young Adults Believe and Want to Know About Education to Workforce Pathways
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Pathways Matter to Families offers insights and actionable resources for students and families. The two complementary resources linked are informed by original research investigating what parents and young adults think and want to know about education-to-workforce pathways and experiences.
Article
What it will take to change the narrative about career education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
The article discusses the growing issue of young Americans aged 18-24 not engaging in college or work, exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite high job vacancies, there's skepticism toward non-college education and job-training programs. The article highlights policy recommendations to integrate workforce training and higher education, stressing that both traditional and non-degree credentials are essential for economic mobility. The purpose is to advocate for a broader, more inclusive approach to postsecondary education and workforce training, aiming to enhance economic opportunities for all.
Research Report
Hispanic STARs: Smart Employers Aim for Hispanic STARs
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This report highlights the significant presence of Hispanic workers who are skilled through alternative routes (STARs) in the workforce and their overrepresentation in lower-wage occupations. It discusses the barriers these workers face due to degree requirements and suggests that employers prioritize skills over formal education to improve economic mobility for Hispanic STARs.
Playbook or Guidebook
Shifting the Skills Conversation: Employer Attitudes on and Outcomes for Career Technical Education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Shifting the Skills Conversation: Employer Attitudes and Outcomes of Career Technical Education 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 and supports