Exploring the Growing Impact of Career Pathways
There has been a steady growth of career pathways programs in both the secondary and postsecondary sectors. This blog post evaluates the evidence underlying the five recommendations in the Designing and Delivering Career Pathways at Community Colleges practice guide, produced by the What Works Clearinghouse (WCC). By reviewing 21 studies of career pathway programs that met WCC standards, this blog post highlights the current research landscape and finds a dearth of rigorous research within these studies, as they fail to encompass programs that focus on both credential building and college degree obtainment. Furthermore, the post details the importance of investing in diverse research on programs that help prepare students for quality jobs that provide economic and career advancement opportunities over their lifetime. By bolstering the current guidelines in present studies, the WWC can deliver more conclusive research to educational institutions and create more equitable outcomes for student success.