- Skip to main content
- About Us
- Contact Us
- FAQs
-  Language Assistance ****    - English
  - español
  - 中文: 繁體版
  - Việt-ngữ
  - 한국어
  - Tagalog
  - Русский 

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education

        - Student Loans
        - Grants
        - Laws
        - Data

# Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates Completion of Nationwide Unlocking Pathways Summit Series

# Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates Completion of Nationwide Unlocking Pathways Summit Series

September 12, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
The Biden-Harris Administration completed its nationwide Unlocking Pathways Summit  series today in Biloxi, Mississippi. The four-part series was part of  the U.S. Department of Education’s Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success initiative, aimed  at helping young Americans access good-paying jobs created by President Biden’s  Bidenomics agenda. The series was supported by the Departments of  Transportation, Energy, Commerce, and Labor to increase and expand access to  high-quality career pathways helping young Americans prepare for careers of the  future in in-demand fields.

The  Summit series was co-hosted with the national education and workforce  development organization Jobs for the Future (JFF), and more than 500 guests  from more than 36 states attended the convenings to highlight workforce  priorities and growing opportunities for young people created by historic  recent federal investments, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act.

Each  Summit included state teams of key decision makers across the K-12, Higher  Education, and Workforce systems, and the U.S. Department of Education  (Department) was joined at each event by senior leadership from both federal  agency partners and state leaders, including Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado and  Gov. Tony Evers of Wisconsin.
The  series kicked off in **Renton, Washington**, where the Department  partnered with the Department of Transportation to discuss construction and  infrastructure pathways. At the Summit, the Department announced partnerships  with Departments of Transportation, Energy, Commerce, and Labor to support  state teams to connect across sectors to advance career-connected  learning.
At  the Summit in **Aurora, Colorado**, U.S. Secretary of Education  Miguel Cardona announced the launch of a $25 million  Career Connected High School Grant, a  new program that will provide grants to consortia of local educational  agencies, institutions of higher education, and employers to pilot  evidence-based strategies to increase the integration and alignment of high  school, postsecondary education, and the world of work to improve postsecondary  education and career outcomes for all students.

In **Madison, Wisconsin**, Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten  announced 81 semi-finalists for Phase 2 of the Career Z Challenge, a challenge designed to identify local  education agencies interested in creating or enhancing work-based learning  (WBL) opportunities to engage students across grades 9-12 in meaningful career  exploration, development, and preparation. The 81 semi-finalists represent 34  states and collectively serve more than 1.5 million students.

At today’s final summit in **Biloxi, Mississippi**, representatives  from Alabama and Mississippi shared regional exemplars that support students  with disabilities to pursue competitive integrated employment and further  connecting their education and workforce systems to support youth employment.  Additionally, the Department announced the grand-prize winner of the Rural Tech  Project. This is a $600,000 challenge to advance technology education and  prepare students for the careers of today and tomorrow, administered by  Luminary Labs. The winner, Woodlake High School in Woodlake, California,  prepares students for regional aviation careers and postsecondary degrees,  utilizing drone operations, geometry, and aerodynamic principles. Students use  flight simulators, complete dual-credit college courses, and earn recognized  industry certifications. As the grand-prize winner, Woodlake will receive an  additional $100,000 prize.

“High  school students everywhere need more opportunities to build the advanced  technology skills that our employers need, and our economy demands. These  summits allowed us to gather key officials to work together to ensure our youth  are ready for the jobs of the future,” said Amy Loyd, assistant secretary of  the Department’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. “I am  honored to congratulate Woodlake High School for their inspiring and innovative  work in the Rural Tech Project. Woodlake’s aviation program engages students  meaningfully through hands-on learning and real industry experiences, preparing  them to pursue high demand, rewarding careers.” 

For  more information about the Career Connected High School Grant, the Career Z Challenge, or the Rural Tech Project,  and for more information about the broader Unlocking  Career Success initiative, sign up for our newsletter here.
   -  Tags: Press Releases
          How Do I Find...?    - Student loans, forgiveness
- Higher Education Rulemaking
- College accreditation
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- FAFSA
- 1098, tax forms
- More...
      Information About...    - Elevating Teaching
- Early Learning
- Engage Every Student
- Unlocking Career Success
- Cybersecurity
Search press releasesSearch for:      Find By Month    - February 2024 
- January 2024 
- December 2023 
- November 2023 
- October 2023 
- September 2023 
- August 2023 
- July 2023 
- June 2023 
- May 2023 
- April 2023 
- March 2023 
- All Press Releases
             
*Our mission* is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
- Student Loans
- Repaying Loans
- Defaulted Loans
- Loan Forgiveness
- Loan Servicers
- Grants & Programs
- Apply for Pell Grants
- Grants Forecast
- Apply for a Grant
- Laws & Guidance
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- Civil Rights
- IDEA Website
- Data & Research
- Education Statistics
- Postsecondary Education Data
- ED Data Express
- Nation's Report Card
- What Works Clearinghouse
- Open Data Platform
- COVID Relief Data
- About Us
- Contact Us
- ED Offices
- Jobs
- Press Releases
- FAQs
- Recursos en español
- Budget, Performance
- Privacy Program
- Homeroom Blog
- Notices
- FOIA
- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility
- Security
- Information Quality
- Inspector General
- Whitehouse.gov
- USA.gov
- Benefits.gov
- Regulations.gov