Jobs that offer strong wages and opportunities for career advancement increasingly require education and training beyond high school, yet in the past decade college enrollment rates among high school graduates have declined. Strengthening the transition from high school to college and career opportunity is therefore a key challenge for improving social mobility and economic development across the country. Grounded in qualitative fieldwork, this report examines how community colleges and K-12 partners are addressing this challenge through career-connected dual enrollment—the intentional integration of college coursework into existing career-focused high school programs. The goal is to ensure that more students—especially those who might not otherwise continue their education after high school—engage in postsecondary education and training that prepares them for high-opportunity careers.
The report begins by detailing the need for college and career acceleration, especially among underserved students. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 135 dual enrollment and career and technical education (CTE) practitioners at colleges and high schools at 12 sites across the country, the report goes on to describe three core structural strategies to scale career-connected dual enrollment that are built around traditional high school CTE pathways, high school career academies, and college-based CTE programs. In doing so, the authors make reference to four case studies that are available as separate documents.
The report then highlights promising practices undertaken by sites to guide and support students, which are mapped to the Dual Enrollment Equity Pathways (DEEP) framework. The authors conclude with lessons offered by postsecondary and K-12 leaders and practitioners on how to sustain, fund, and expand high-opportunity career pathways.