ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career

ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career Transforming education through College and Career Pathways Register for North Kansas City Schools Experiential Site Visit.

Click link to register: https://tinyurl.com/NKCSESV2023

"Collaborating with someone who's in the trenches makes all the difference. I wish I had this from my first year of teac...
07/20/2026

"Collaborating with someone who's in the trenches makes all the difference. I wish I had this from my first year of teaching."

-Louise, High School Math Teacher

That's what Reciprocal Coaching is built for. Teachers pair up, observe each other, and work on goals they set themselves. Because professional development that sticks is professional development teachers own.

See how it works: https://connectednational.org/learn/services/reciprocal-coaching/

Ask a student what they want to be when they grow up, and the answers usually come from a pretty short list: the jobs th...
07/14/2026

Ask a student what they want to be when they grow up, and the answers usually come from a pretty short list: the jobs they see around them. (It’s why so many young children imagine being a garbage collector at some point.)

Our Day at Work video series exists to broaden that horizon. Each one is a short look at a real professional doing real work: an architect, a curator, a bridge builder, an audio engineer. The goal is simple: give students more to choose from.

Browse the collection here:
https://connectednational.org/watch/day-at-work-videos/

What if summer prep felt less like a requirement and more like a team launchpad? In districts like LAUSD, incoming fresh...
06/29/2026

What if summer prep felt less like a requirement and more like a team launchpad?

In districts like LAUSD, incoming freshmen are jumpstarting high school through a two-week Linked Learning Summer Bridge. Students work in teams on hands-on projects aligned with their future career pathways, learning alongside industry partners and guest speakers.

To deepen the impact, older students are hired as paid interns to mentor the incoming freshmen. It’s a powerful model for any district looking to turn summer programming into a space that builds real confidence, connection, and community.

Learn more: https://roosevelths.lausd.org/apps/news/article/2069372

“When my coursework relates to my life, I feel more connected to it.” Students say this again and again, and it’s easy t...
06/22/2026

“When my coursework relates to my life, I feel more connected to it.” Students say this again and again, and it’s easy to understand why. Traditional high school can feel like a checklist. But when linked learning frameworks are implemented, the classroom becomes a place where students build things, solve problems, and work on projects that mirror real careers. Suddenly, they can really see their future. And that’s so powerful for teens.

Classroom vibes transform alongside student attitudes. Smaller cohorts mean teachers know their students deeply. That connection turns school into something students want to show up for, not something they’re just required to finish.

Hear directly from pathway students on how the approach is improving their high school experience and guiding their future plans: https://connectednational.org/watch/student-stories/student-voices/

Today we join our community in celebrating Juneteenth! As we reflect on the historical significance of this day, we also...
06/19/2026

Today we join our community in celebrating Juneteenth! As we reflect on the historical significance of this day, we also recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of creating equitable educational systems.

Every student deserves access to pathways that nurture their talents, respect their heritage, and prepare them to thrive in college and career. We are deeply grateful to the educators who work every day to dismantle barriers and build a fairer future for all young people.

While classrooms may be quiet over the summer, it’s one of the most important seasons for school and district leaders. S...
06/11/2026

While classrooms may be quiet over the summer, it’s one of the most important seasons for school and district leaders. Summer break is time to reflect on the past year, analyze student outcomes, and intentionally design pathways that connect learning to purpose. The structural decisions made right now will shape the daily experiences of teachers and students come fall.
As you plan for the year ahead, which structures need to evolve? And which partnerships can help you get there?

Ninth-grade algebra is a pivotal moment in a high schooler’s academic trajectory. In order for more students to be able ...
06/05/2026

Ninth-grade algebra is a pivotal moment in a high schooler’s academic trajectory. In order for more students to be able to conceptualize important mathematical concepts, we partner with districts to shift how math is taught. One of these shifts is to connect lessons with the industries and career pathways students are exploring. When algebra relates directly to their future goals, students engage more deeply and build lasting confidence. We’re proud to support the educators making math a powerful tool for equity and opportunity in their classrooms every single day.

We’ve been thinking a lot lately about how school schedules reflect a district's true priorities. In our latest look at ...
05/30/2026

We’ve been thinking a lot lately about how school schedules reflect a district's true priorities. In our latest look at how time impacts pathway quality, we’ve found that small shifts—like protecting math as a cohorted course or building in predictable time for work-based learning—have an outsized impact on student engagement.

Scheduling is an act of care that shapes how students experience their education every single day. We’re proud to work alongside partners who are making these tough, intentional choices to put student purpose at the center of the clock.

Learn more: https://connectednational.org/using-time-as-a-lever-for-high-quality-pathways/

When school districts collaborate, students win. Our New Mexico Community of Practice is currently bringing leaders toge...
05/27/2026

When school districts collaborate, students win. Our New Mexico Community of Practice is currently bringing leaders together to share strategies and support one another in their pathway work. A huge thank you to LANL and Tobi Baker Wright for helping facilitate this vital space for partnership and growth. We’re excited to see the impact of these connections in the months to come.

National Pathway Day was a huge success this year. Across the country, more organizations and districts are speaking up ...
05/19/2026

National Pathway Day was a huge success this year. Across the country, more organizations and districts are speaking up about the importance of career pathways. We love seeing the progress our partners are making in places like Kansas, Gallup, and right here in California. This isn't just a single day of celebration; it’s a movement that keeps getting stronger, and we’re so glad to be a part of it.

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Berkeley, CA
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