Research

students in a classroom, each at their own desks with laptops

Pathway2Careers Selected to Develop Innovative Career-Connected Learning Courses for Schools

This Pathway2Careers report examines how career-connected math instruction impacts student engagement, achievement, and relevance in the classroom. Drawing on educator feedback and implementation data, it highlights how integrating real-world career contexts into math lessons helps students better understand the purpose of what they are learning.

The report outlines key use cases for P2C Math, including increasing student motivation, supporting differentiated instruction, and strengthening alignment between academic content and future career pathways. Findings suggest that when math is connected to real-world applications, students show greater interest, improved performance, and stronger connections between school and future goals.
This U.S. Department of Education report presents a strategy to “reimagine” the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to better serve educators, policymakers, and researchers. Drawing on stakeholder input and a review of current practices, the report identifies challenges including fragmented research efforts, slow data delivery, and limited classroom relevance. It proposes a series of major shifts, such as prioritizing high-impact education challenges, streamlining and modernizing federal data systems, and increasing collaboration with states and districts.

The recommendations aim to ensure that education research is more timely, actionable, and aligned with real-world needs to improve student outcomes.Examines post-pandemic academic recovery across schools, showing uneven gains in math and reading and varied paths back to pre-COVID achievement
This NWEA research brief analyzes post-pandemic academic recovery patterns across more than 9,000 U.S. schools, highlighting significant variation in both initial learning loss and subsequent gains. Drawing on MAP Growth assessment data from millions of students, the report identifies distinct recovery trajectories, including schools that avoided major declines and those that rebounded after substantial setbacks.

Findings show that while some schools have returned to pre-pandemic achievement levels, many continue to lag—particularly those serving higher-poverty and historically marginalized populations. The brief offers insights for education leaders on targeting supports, setting realistic recovery goals, and sustaining long-term academic improvement.
teacher and two students looking at a computer

CTE HUB Launches to Connect Career Readiness, Students, Families, and Business

This Pathway2Careers report explores the importance of structured career exploration beginning in middle school. Drawing on national research and practical implementation examples, it outlines how early exposure to careers helps students develop self-awareness, connect academic learning to future pathways, and build essential planning skills.

The report offers evidence-informed strategies for embedding career exploration into middle school curricula, school counseling, and advisement systems to support equitable access to postsecondary and workforce opportunities.