Every once in a while, a piece of research stops me in my tracks.
This week, an article from The 74 did exactly that: “The Looming $90 Trillion Cost of Learning Loss — and the Policy Solutions to Address It.”
Yes, trillion with a T.
The piece, by economic analysts Eric A. Hanushek and Christy Hovanetz, lays out a staggering truth: if we fail to close the learning gaps created and deepened over the last decade, the global economic fallout could reach $90 trillion over the lifetimes of today’s students.
It’s not just a crisis. It’s a generational turning point.
But here’s what struck me most: every policy solution the article highlights—relevance, career pathways, workforce alignment, student engagement, and targeted academic recovery—points to a clear direction for education.
To close learning gaps, we must help students understand the purpose behind what they’re learning and connect lessons to real opportunities. That is the heart of career-connected learning and the focus of Pathway2Careers (P2C).
If we want to change outcomes for students and for the global economy, it starts with changing how learning feels in school.
The Crisis of Relevance, Engagement, and Opportunity
Policymakers are calling for approaches that:
- Re-engage students through real-world relevance
- Strengthen academic recovery with evidence-based intervention
- Align education to labor market needs
- Create clear pathways to postsecondary success
- Provide states and districts with data to make smarter decisions
The path forward is clear: connect learning to life. When students see why their lessons matter, engagement and achievement follow.
Turning Policy Priorities into Classroom Possibilities
Most educators understand that helping students recover missed learning requires more than traditional tutoring or remediation. Programs that simply repeat concepts students never connected with are unlikely to succeed.
Students need lessons that feel meaningful and tied to real-world contexts. Yet many educators lack the tools to make those connections. P2C equips instructors, schools, and districts to put these principles into practice at scale.
Here’s how we do it:
Relevance that drives engagement
P2C Math and Math Bridge link math instruction to real-world applications. By showing students how math is used in careers and everyday life, these programs boost motivation and confidence while driving measurable gains in proficiency.
A comprehensive career-connected learning solution
From Career Explorer to Labor Market Navigator, P2C provides the resources educators and students need to plan meaningful pathways. Career Cluster Maps, based on the 14 clusters of the National Career Clusters® Framework, outline multiple entry and exit points in careers, show the education and training required, and highlight viable local opportunities. These tools help schools strengthen CTE programs, regional pathway planning, and workforce-aligned learning.
Data that informs decisions at every level
P2C dashboards turn labor market, demographic, and academic data into actionable insights. Schools and states can identify trends, target resources effectively, and ensure programs align with both economic demand and equity goals.
Evidence-based interventions aligned to state priorities
Our math curriculum is validated by research, demonstrating growth in Quantile® scores and engagement outcomes. Across all our solutions, P2C aligns with state priorities for relevance, equity, and preparation for postsecondary and workforce pathways.
A model that scales
Addressing learning gaps at scale requires coordinated strategies. P2C is designed to support educators at every level, from individual classrooms to entire districts, helping schools implement career-connected learning that is both practical and adaptable to local priorities.
Through our professional services, we also partner with schools and districts to design and implement comprehensive, career-connected learning strategies tailored to their local context. Together, these tools and partnerships help students envision their futures while giving educators the data, curriculum, and support they need.
The Path Forward
The challenge before us is immense, but so is the opportunity to reshape how students experience learning.
When education connects to real-world purpose, students engage, achievement grows, and communities thrive. That mission drives everything we do at P2C.
Educators are leading this transformation, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and district leaders who help students link learning to opportunity every day. We’re here to support that work with tools and insights that make career-connected learning achievable and scalable.
Because when education and opportunity align, everyone benefits: students, schools, communities, and the workforce they’ll soon lead.
Looking for a model you can learn from?
Below, Erika Hulleman—former Teen Pathways Manager at the Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities—shares how P2C helps teens connect what they learn in school to real-world opportunities. By exploring local career data and authentic Career Stories, students are discovering their passions, setting goals, and building confidence in their futures.
