Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Skills and credentials will only take young people so far as they enter the modern workforce. It will be their network —mentors who give advice, supervisors who serve as champions, and acquaintances who open doors—that will have an outsized impact...
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
We’re excited to share this guest post from Kimberly Yeiter, CTE Director and Technology Coordinator, Dyersburg City Schools. ESG is proud to be supporting work with Tennessee districts to develop career pathways in advanced manufacturing and prepare students for in-demand,...
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Work-based learning (WBL) has rapidly moved from a “nice to have” program to a core workforce priority for state leaders. This has generated significant conversation and exploration around the supports and infrastructures needed for experiences like internships and apprenticeships, but...
Thursday, April 2, 2026
When my daughter, Ayanna, turned 14 and finished middle school last summer, I signed her up for a career exploration summer camp against her will. Yup, that’s right. I was a mom on a mission. My creative, hands-on kid who...
Thursday, December 18, 2025
As efforts to build clearer pathways from education into the workforce take root across the country, some leaders are finding that this work is best accomplished at the regional level. Collaborating as a region can be the “sweet spot” for...
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
In February 2023, I wrote about ESG’s excitement to be a part of a major new initiative to drive economic development and mobility by expanding educational pathways—Launch. Our excitement was driven by Launch’s uniqueness, which was two-fold: a singular vision...
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The San Francisco Bay Area consistently tops the lists of the “most expensive places to live”, highlighting a grave challenge: full-time employment often fails to provide sufficient income to meet basic needs. This economic disconnect is at the heart of...
Thursday, July 17, 2025
For decades, American mathematics education has included a fairly standard and predictable sequence of classes: algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, and maybe eventually calculus. The majority of students have not historically experienced much variation or choice in their math education, and for...
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
The historic investments of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) present a unique opportunity to transform the U.S. workforce. These federal funding streams, while focused on near-term needs in...
Thursday, June 20, 2024
2024 has brought some good news—and real momentum—for accelerated pathways programs at state houses across the country.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Accelerated pathways opportunities are becoming increasingly available to today’s high school students – which is good news for both students and their communities. High schools, colleges, and employers are regularly working together to connect students to meaningful postsecondary credentials and...
Monday, May 13, 2024
“I feel like there aren’t enough [opportunities to learn about careers in school]. I feel like we need more time to do it. Because it’s once a year and you get a five-day unit about what you want to do....