ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career

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 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 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 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 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.

Reminder: Our webinar on math curriculum adoption and implementation is coming up tomorrow, May 19 from 11 AM–12 PM PT.

If your district is planning for:
✓ Math instructional materials adoption
✓ Pilot processes
✓ Stakeholder engagement
✓ Alignment to the CA K–12 Mathematics Framework

…this conversation is for you.

Hear practical lessons and real examples from leaders at Fairfield-Suisun USD and Orange County Office of Education.

Register here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Math Reimagined: From Adoption to Impact. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join ConnectED on May 19 from 11:00 AM–12:00 PM PT for a practical conversation about math curriculum adoption and implementation aligned to the CA K–12 Mathematics Framework. This webinar will feature leaders from: • Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District • Orange County Office of Educati...

Too often, math curriculum adoption is treated like a purchasing decision instead of an implementation process.

The result?

• Pilot processes that don’t generate meaningful data
• Stakeholder engagement that feels rushed or unclear
• Implementation challenges that surface too late

Join ConnectED on May 19 for a practical conversation with district and county leaders about the common pitfalls — and the must-haves — of successful math curriculum adoption and implementation aligned to the CA K–12 Mathematics Framework.

Featuring leaders from Fairfield-Suisun USD and Orange County Office of Education.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4fayq04

California, we’ve got something big to share. Our services have officially expanded across California, opening the door for deeper partnerships with schools that want math instruction to feel rigorous, relevant, and connected to students’ futures.

With our updated PLPG profile, we can now support districts in designing math experiences that help students see where math can take them. From career‑aligned problem solving to real‑world applications, we’re excited to help teachers bring math to life in ways that stick.

We can’t wait to see the impact this next chapter will have in classrooms across the state.

Many systems approach curriculum adoption as a purchasing decision. The most successful implementations treat it as a systems-level process.

On May 19, hear directly from leaders who recently guided math adoption and pilot planning efforts aligned to the CA K–12 Mathematics Framework.

We’ll discuss:
What districts often underestimate
• How to build meaningful stakeholder engagement
• What makes pilot data useful for decision-making
• How implementation planning starts before adoption decisions are finalized

Join us: https://bit.ly/4fayq04

What does it take to lead an effective math curriculum adoption and implementation process?

Join ConnectED on May 19 (11 AM–12 PM PT) for a webinar featuring district and county leaders sharing real lessons learned from planning pilots, engaging stakeholders, and aligning to the CA K–12 Mathematics Framework.

You’ll hear practical insights on:
✔ Designing meaningful pilot processes
✔ Building strong steering committees
✔ Avoiding common implementation pitfalls
✔ Planning for long-term success
Featuring leaders from Fairfield-Suisun USD and the Orange County Office of Education.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4fayq04