Education Strategy Group

Last week, 30+ executive leaders from K-12, higher ed, business, and state government came together for a TalentReady roundtable focused on expanding career pathways in Maryland. Hosted at CareFirst in Baltimore and co-led by the Greater Washington Partnership and Education Strategy Group, this conversation marked a critical step in advancing regional collaboration across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Why? Because employers don’t hire by jurisdiction—they hire from the region’s shared talent pool. And to build inclusive, high-quality pathways into good jobs, we need aligned action across systems and sectors. What inspired us most: Every leader in the room is committed to a future where students gain the skills, experiences, and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. Special thanks to our partners Greater Washington Partnership and JPMorganChase and all who joined us to shape the next chapter of this work. Onward!" #TalentReady #CareerPathways #FutureOfWork #WorkforceDevelopment #EducationToCareer

????????We are excited to announce our 2025 Summer Internship Program is accepting applications! ESG interns actively support our work by researching policies and best practices, conducting qualitative research (interviews, surveys, etc.), writing memos, blogs, etc., providing data analysis and visualization, supporting our network convenings, and/or researching and prototyping tools. If you–or someone you know–are interested, don’t wait! Apply today at https://lnkd.in/gFqEKNDx

The ESG team is feeling grateful and energized as we wrap up a fantastic few days in Denver with the #AccelerateED community. Accelerate ED includes dozens of teams from more than 20 states who are working toward building and scaling high-quality pathways to high-value careers for students. In addition to lots of peer collaboration and connection, we had the chance to engage in some great learning opportunities from Visible Network Labs and InnovateEDU. Governor Jared Polis also joined us to reflect on the work Colorado has been doing to bring meaningful opportunities to all students. We’re grateful for the enthusiasm, innovative ideas, and collaborative spirit these teams always bring to the table—and especially to the Gates Foundation for supporting this work! Learn more at www.accelerate-ed.org.

The past few years have been enormously challenging for many higher education institutions across the country. A demographic cliff, a pandemic, college closures, and a concerning number of students asking, “is college even worth it?” all contributed to declining enrollment, a troubling indicator both in terms of lost revenue for the institutions and a lack of prepared talent to fuel a strong economy. We know that education and training beyond high school is—and will continue to be—necessary for a growing majority of jobs in our economy; but, the trends driving enrollment declines make it clear that higher education is at a crossroads. What can colleges do to “reclaim” enrollment and thrive in the new economy? My latest piece in Forbes explores the policies and practices that are on the table to?more effectively boost enrollment, now and into the future. Read it now: https://lnkd.in/eG_Bz9cC

For state and higher education leaders, the last few years have been tumultuous. Declining enrollment trends signaled trouble for colleges in terms of lost revenue, and troubles for the economy by creating shortages of prepared talent. New figures out from National Student Clearinghouse have helped quell some of those anxieties—college enrollment in the U.S. rose for the first time last fall to surpass pre-pandemic levels. But enrollment challenges are far from resolved. How can colleges “reclaim” enrollment and thrive in the new economy? @MattGandal’s latest essay in @Forbes outlines steps institutions can and should be taking, including ensuring degrees, programs, and credentials offer real value; thinking more expansively about who could enroll in college and how to meet their needs; and reducing the friction that holds people back from enrolling. Check in out: https://lnkd.in/gy64S6cf

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I had a great time co-presenting with Ajit Gopalakrishnan and Christopher Janzer this week at the National Forum on the Future of Assessment and Accountability. CT and MI offer great examples of how to center long-term student outcomes in how we conceive of and measure the success of K-12 schools and districts. Here's hoping they blaze a trail for more states to put all students on a path to college and career success.

I'm excited to speak next week at the CA Dual Enrollment Equity Conference alongside a rockstar team building accelerated college and career pathways for students in Sonoma County! Leslie Simmons Chris Catelli Karolina Nazario Please reach out if we can grab coffee or connect there. #dualenrollment #studentsuccess #CTE Education Strategy Group

I had a great time co-presenting with Ajit Gopalakrishnan and Christopher Janzer this week at the National Forum on the Future of Assessment and Accountability. CT and MI offer great examples of how to center long-term student outcomes in how we conceive of and measure the success of K-12 schools and districts. Here's hoping they blaze a trail for more states to put all students on a path to college and career success.

Don't miss this great conversation (featuring some amazing student voices!) on Getting Smart! ?? #pathways #careers #careerpathways #workbasedlearning #internships #apprenticeships