Pathway2Careers

Over 100 years ago, John Dewey championed a concept in his book “Democracy & Education” that remains a cornerstone of personal fulfillment. “To find out what one is fitted to do and to secure an opportunity to do it is the key to happiness,” he wrote. Today, this philosophy finds its embodiment in the value proposition of Pathway2CareersTM (P2C).

In the modern education landscape, where academic achievements are weighed against job readiness, P2C emerges as a powerful leader. It weaves Dewey's insights into today's learning by valuing skill application as much as knowledge gain, reflecting the belief that happiness stems from doing what one is truly suited for.

P2C recognizes a pressing issue in today's education landscape—while students might excel in rote memorization or theoretical concepts, many are left floundering when faced with the practical challenges of the professional world.

To address this, the company is innovating the educational world with its 'Career-Connected Learning' approach—a model that merges academic rigor with practical career guidance. This strategy not only enriches the learning process but significantly boosts student engagement, making learning both relevant and motivating.

“Our multifaceted approach not only makes education relevant but equips students to be career-ready, reflecting a deep integration of education, employment, and economic development through the lens of equity,” says Dr. Joseph Goins, CEO.

Bridging the Gap Between Academics and the Real World

Anchored in relevance and applicability, P2C stands as the epitome of what contemporary education can and should aim for.

The P2C Career-Connected Learning suite ties academic content directly to real-world career scenarios, taking education beyond traditional boundaries. For instance, when students learn math, they're not just navigating abstract formulas, they see how these principles play out in the real world and apply to an occupation, adding depth and relevance to their learning. This boosts engagement in the classroom and equips students with a broader perspective of potential career paths. They understand the integral role of academics in various professions.

The Career-Connected Learning curriculum is aligned with current industry trends and needs. As a result, students are academically proficient and equipped to thrive in the dynamic professional landscape.

Beyond making students career-ready, P2C is about grooming them to be career wise. This distinction goes beyond academic achievements.

There's a growing realization—fueled by a sobering statistic showing roughly 40 percent of college graduates experience underemployment—that students need more than just a degree.

They need a comprehensive understanding of where the job market stands and where it's headed.

This gap is addressed by merging academic lessons with real-world labor market data. The backbone of P2C is its unwavering dedication to research, which, in turn, impacts policy that leads to practice in the classroom. This isn’t a mere selling point—it's the foundation upon which its educational methodology is built.

One of its core products, Labor Market Navigator, is used to align educational programs with job market needs, helping school districts tailor their curricula to local economic realities.

This approach makes learning relevant by demonstrating the practical application of academics in various professions.

“Our biggest differentiator is our capability to pull in different aspects that center around labor market data to help connect learning and decision-making to what's relevant to a specific district or state's economic needs,” says Kari Stillman, chief marketing officer.

P2C also provides career exploration resources and curriculum, providing learners with the essential resources to make informed decisions. This is integrated with academic learning, particularly in math, answering the critical question of real-world application for students.

Our biggest differentiator is our capability to pull in different aspects that center around labor market data to help connect learning and decision-making to what's relevant to a specific district or state's economic needs

“Our team works alongside state departments, focusing on leadership strategies at a high school level and ensuring compliance with Perkins V federal guidelines for career and technical education. This encapsulates local needs assessments, focusing on high-wage, high-growth occupations and fostering stakeholder engagement in the context of education,” says Goins.

Research-Driven Approach

Key collaborations have played a pivotal role in shaping P2C. Its partnership with Carnegie Mellon University involved a comprehensive, year-long project encompassing student surveys, teacher feedback and extensive evaluations. This joint venture was aimed at refining the educational model, ensuring it effectively meets contemporary needs.

Following a math program using career-connected learning, student engagement soared remarkably, with 82 percent preferring this method after one lesson, and 100 percent engagement after two, showcasing the approach's effectiveness and relevance.

This method positively influenced students' career perspectives, with 91 percent of them showing an increased interest in learning more about professions introduced through math lessons. This aligns with the organization’s goal of enhancing academic engagement while broadening students' exposure to various career opportunities.

P2C Math, embedded with over 650 careers, resulted in a 40 percent increase in students' interest in pursuing STEM careers, underscoring the curriculum's alignment with global STEM field demands. This success story is further reinforced by a study from the Gates Foundation, which highlighted the need for a math curriculum redesign focusing on relevancy to future success.

P2C had preemptively addressed this need by integrating math education with career pathways, demonstrating its foresight and adaptability in the educational landscape.

Simultaneously, its association with the University of Louisville brought the expertise of CRIMSTED, the Center for Research and Teaching of Science and Math. This collaboration involved an independent review of the platform's content, gauging its efficacy and relevance in today's educational landscape.

By actively seeking such feedback, the company ensures it remains attuned to changing needs, refining its approach and content based on these insights. The goal is clear—deliver education that's top-notch and aligned with the changing demands of the modern world. In a domain as dynamic as education, stagnation isn't an option.

P2C operates with a clear understanding that learners are diverse, with unique aspirations and challenges. As a result, it consciously transitioned from a one-size-fits-all approach to offering an adaptable curriculum designed to cater to the diverse requirements of individual learners. This emphasis on tailoring content underscores its commitment to making education a more personal and relevant experience for students.

Future Prospects

Securing a new grant in collaboration with New Mexico, P2C is gearing up to expand its reach. Initially focusing on high school math, the latest funding will enable the completion of middle school math curriculum within the next year. This progression sets the stage for potential exploration into other subjects, such as science, based on growing demands from educational institutions.

The platform's emphasis isn’t solely on broadening academic content. It includes deepening its "career-connected learning" approach. Future plans include strengthening career exploration components, adding more courses like financial literacy and STEM, and offering students cross-curricular activities. These activities aim to guide students in making informed career decisions from grade six through high school.

P2C shines not just for its innovative approach, but for the expertise behind it. A significant portion of its team holds advanced degrees like PhDs, but it's the real-world experience that sets them apart. With team members ranging from awardwinning superintendents to cyber school leaders and economic development experts, it brings unparalleled credibility and value to educational collaborations.

When it comes to its client onboarding, the company’s professional development team is in charge. P2C offers a structured onboarding process for educators, ranging from 30 to 90 days. Clients can access a robust online library, subjects like Perkins V and Educator Effectiveness for Career-Connected Learning. This is supplemented with onsite professional development, ensuring educators have both digital and hands-on resources to excel.

Pathway2Careers is more than just a name; it's a mission. This distinction, in its essence, sets the company apart, positioning it as not just another educational tool, but a transformative force for the future of learning.