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U.S. Department of Education

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# Raise the Bar: Postsecondary and Career Pathways

# Raise the Bar: Postsecondary and Career Pathways

                                    -        *Goal: Ensure every student has an onramp to postsecondary  education and training, including by establishing and scaling innovative  systems of college and career pathways that integrate high schools, colleges,  careers, and communities and lead to students earning industry-recognized  credentials and securing in-demand jobs.*The Problem**Raise the Bar One-Pagers**EnglishEspañol
Today, most good  jobs—those that provide a living wage—require some form of career-connected  postsecondary education and training. And by 2027, 70 percent of jobs will  require education or training beyond high school. Our country must dramatically  increase the number of Americans who possess a postsecondary credential. And we  must connect our education and workforce systems to expand and create new  opportunities for all students to engage in innovative and equitable pathways  that propel them to rewarding futures.
Our Strategies
The Department is committed to working with state and local  leaders to ensure every student has an onramp to college and to good jobs by  reimagining how our nation’s high schools prepare all students to succeed and  by providing students with accelerated and innovative opportunities to earn  college credits and gain real-world professional experiences. Robust  investments and strategic action in the areas below represent the four key  levers to providing all students with pathways to high-quality postsecondary  education and training.
Raise the Bar:  Unlocking Career Success:
The  Unlocking Career Success interagency initiative aims to reimagine how our nation's high  schools prepare all students to thrive in their future careers by blurring the  lines between elementary and secondary education, college, and careers. 

The  Department of Education is partnering with the White House and the Departments  of Labor and Commerce to engage and mobilize employers and build strong  education-to-employment strategies, policies, and programs aligned to regional  economic needs.

Additionally,  the Department of Education is working to build the capacity of leaders in the  field to create innovative pathways and partnerships through case studies,  communities of practice, summits, and an actionable playbook and suite of  resources.
Dual  Enrollment:
The Department supports dual enrollment opportunities, which allow high school  students to take a college course and earn both high school and college credit.  Dual enrollment is a proven, evidence-based strategy to increase high school  achievement and completion and to boost postsecondary enrollment and credential  attainment. 

States  and districts are using resources from the American Rescue Plan's (ARP)  Elementary and Secondary School Emergency (ESSER) Fund to expand access to and  participation in dual enrollment programs, particularly for students who have  been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Work-Based  Learning:
To  ensure more students can benefit from opportunities that connect academic  learning to real-world applications and be exposed to different career fields,  the Department aims to expand access to work-based learning programs and initiatives. Work-based  learning is an evidence-based approach that also helps young people generate  income, establish future earning potential, and connect with professionals in  the labor market.

See the infographic below, which shows the  percentage of career and technical education (CTE) concentrators that  participated in work-based learning activities during the 2021-2022 academic  year in the 28 states that report this data as part of accountability under the  Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, also  known as Perkins V legislation. This bipartisan measure reauthorized the Carl  D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, otherwise known as Perkins  IV, and continued Congress’ commitment to providing nearly $1.4 billion  annually for CTE programs for our nation’s youth and adults. 

**Work-based Learning Participation**(download data as a spreadsheet)

To  help create new and enhance existing high-quality work-based learning programs,  the Department also is participating in the Career Z Challenge. Eligible participants are engaging in a  collaborative ecosystem of educators, businesses, industry partners, workforce  leaders, and community stakeholders to provide students with interconnected  career development opportunities all over the country.
Workforce  Credentials:
Education  programs that incorporate the opportunity to earn an industry-sought credential  can give young people a leg up in the labor market when they graduate from high  school. Through the use of ARP ESSER funds, the Department of Education is  helping states and districts to identify workforce credentials that have value in the labor market,  expand opportunities for students to earn these credentials, and eliminate  barriers to credential attainment.
Career Advising  and Navigation:
At the Department, we believe that every young  person should leave high school with clear career goals and the knowledge and  resources needed to pursue them. Getting there requires the help and support of  adults. 

That is why the Department is working to  increase access to career advising and navigation programs that provide students with information  about career exploration and planning; offer insights about financial aid for  college, job training, and other postsecondary options; and provide supports  for students to persist in and complete CTE programs or paths of study.

At the Department, we also recognize that  providing robust pre-employment transition support for students with  disabilities is critical to ensuring an inclusive and accessible educational  experience and a successful onramp to the workforce. This assistance helps  students navigate potential challenges, access necessary resources, and  establish connections within the academic and workforce communities, fostering  a strong foundation for success. By addressing the specific needs of students  with disabilities proactively, we can promote equal opportunities and empower  all students to thrive in their educational and work-life journeys. 

The data visualization below shows the percent  of vocational rehabilitation funding that was expended on pre-employment  transition services by each state during fiscal year 2021. States are required  to direct 15 percent of their federal allotment of vocational rehabilitation  funds to pre-employment transition services. 

**Pre-Employment Transition Services for Students with Disabilities**(download data as a spreadsheet)
Sampling of ARP Funding Highlights:- The Department of Education       issued a  call to action  to       expand access to college and career pathways and published a  fact sheet  and other  resources  to help educators and leaders in the field use       ARP funds to reengage students and enhance learning through CTE.
- The Department also released       a  Dear Colleague Letter  to help the field use ARP funds to provide       students with opportunities to engage in dual enrollment and work-based       learning, earn workforce credentials, and participate in career advising       and navigation.
- Through webinars and blogs       devoted to  student engagement ,  career pathways ,  state and local leadership , and  dual enrollment  the Department also is assisting states and       districts in learning more about how they can use federal funds to expand       access to these opportunities for all students.
Grants and  Resources:- To capture the ways in which       the Department is working to ensure every student has a strong onramp to       college and careers, the agency released an Unlocking Career Success  one-pager  with links to federal resources and grants.
- Through a new $25 million grant       program for  Career-Connected High Schools , the Department aims to launch partnerships that blur       the lines between high school, college, and careers through dual       enrollment, workforce credentials, work-based learning, and career       advising and navigation. As part of the Department's Unlocking Career       Success Initiative, this program will help put all students on powerful       and rewarding pathways to their futures.   
- The  Your Place in Space Challenge  is helping to create engaging learning       opportunities for students to connect CTE programs with a wide variety of       space careers; explore the challenges and opportunities of space missions;       and inspire students to envision and pursue space careers. 
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