OneGoal CEO Melissa Connelly, Dr. Lazaro Lopez of HS District 214 and the Illinois Community College Board, Paul Herdman of the Rodel Foundation of Delaware, John Fink of the CCRC at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Kelly Kovacic Duran of Education First discuss the disjointed “patchwork” of college and career prep programs that leaves students ill-prepared for an AI-driven workforce. We explore how to move beyond the patchwork toward a cohesive system approach.
Students deserve clear, supported pathways beyond high school. This new report from the Commission on Purposeful Pathways addresses one of education’s most critical challenges: bridging the gap students experience between high school, higher education, and employment.
Co-chaired by OneGoal’s CEO alongside national partners, the Commission’s report brings together research, field insights, and practitioner perspectives to highlight what’s working, where gaps remain, and what systems must do differently to better serve students.
1.7 trillion
dollars in unrealized annual revenue due to worker skill shortage
15 million
young adults unemployed, in low-wage jobs, or in roles below their educational attainment
13%
students feel prepared to determine career plans before HS graduation
“Within five years, 8 in 10 good jobs will require postsecondary education or industry-recognized credentials. High-quality advising, challenging coursework, and real-world learning are strategies that work; what’s missing is a connected system that ensures every student can navigate them.”
The report introduces a conceptual framework that pairs three essential student experiences with three essential student outcomes:
“Our students who are struggling the most … are really not just needing more information. They’re needing help taking steps, and they’re needing that connection with someone to say, ‘Hey, I see your eyes light up when you talk about this.’”
Jordy Mendoza
OneGoal Alum and first-generation college graduate
In addition to the framework, the report calls for systemic shifts to be adopted by local, state, and national leaders.
Every student, in every community, should experience high-quality advising, accelerated coursework, and career-connected learning. These should be neither exclusive “programs of privilege” nor “interventions” for students seen as falling behind.
In addition to momentum gained from programmatic experiences, students need agency to adapt and respond to evolving opportunities. This allows students to connect their learning to future aspirations and open doors through relationships and networks.
To ensure that students are making progress toward lifelong economic mobility, communities must move the goalposts, from high school graduation to attainment of in-demand, family-sustaining jobs and wages.
Communities must invest in regional teams that align schools, colleges, and employers. These teams then take shared responsibility for student transitions across K-12, postsecondary, and the workforce.
Read the report and join educators, policymakers, and partners committed to improving postsecondary pathways for all students.
Mercy Ajala
OneGoal Alum
The Commission on Purposeful Pathways developed action guides to help regions and states move from vision to lasting implementation:
OneGoal CEO Melissa Connelly served as co-chair for the Commission on Purposeful Pathways, a year-long, national effort convened by the Gates Foundation and comprised of 21 leading education and workforce experts and informed by young adults. Together, they reimagined how we support students from high school through college and career. The resulting report and companion resources provide an actionable framework and a call to action for communities to implement purposeful pathways.