Attaining a post-secondary degree and/or credentials with labor market value is key to economic mobility and opportunity, as ongoing research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation continues to affirm. Data also show that low-income or first-generation students of color face systemic barriers accessing and completing postsecondary education and workforce training programs.

A cohort of six states (Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Ohio1) explored how to transform the way their public resources are designed, delivered, and managed to make the most of what have become generally known as Career Pathway Programs.