Today, 82% of teens said they are confident in future-planning resources, up from 63% in 2021 and 59% in 2018. This progress reflects a growing push by policymakers, employers, educators, and other stakeholders to make career-connected learning a more prominent feature of the education-to-workforce system.


This increase is a major step in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done. Research helps to ensure that we are creating solutions that not only work, but will set students up for success by opening doors through research-informed, career-connected learning and systemic change. That work doesn’t happen alone or overnight.


That’s why Britebound is proud to support the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement for Teaching and Learning, two organizations that are working to discover new solutions to the age-old question: What should the future of learning look like and how do we make that future a reality for more students?


Through Britebound's grants, the Carnegie Foundation and ALI are tackling different but interconnected aspects of educational transformation. Carnegie is exploring new models of competency-based, career-connected learning, while ALI is helping states translate research into policy and practice. Together, these efforts support a shared goal: ensuring that every young person has access to learning experiences that are relevant, evidence-based, and aligned with the opportunities of tomorrow.


Continue reading to learn more about the incredible work our grantees are cultivating.




Moving Beyond the Carnegie Unit


The Carnegie Foundation was first chartered by Congress in 1906, and has a rich history of driving transformational change in education. Over the past 120 years, the organization has helped shape the education landscape through initiatives such as the creation of TIAA-CREF, the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the GRE, Pell Grants, the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education, and the Carnegie Unit, better known today as the "credit hour." Throughout its history, Carnegie's mission has remained steadfast: to catalyze transformational change in education and improve outcomes for learners through research, innovation, and systems-level change.


“We are at a particularly important juncture in our historic arc. There is nationwide demand to transform high school education, so it is more engaging, rigorous, and experiential, and truly prepares young people for their futures. It is only in partnership - with the generous support from funders like Britebound - that we can make schooling genuinely competency (not time) based, and ensure millions more Americans lead fulfilling lives. I am enormously excited about what comes next.” – Timothy F.C. Knowles, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching



With support from Britebound, the Carnegie Foundation is now writing the next chapter of that work by helping transform high school education beyond the traditional seat-time “Carnegie Unit” requirements and toward competency-based, career-connected learning. Through Britebound-supported research, field pilots, and policy strategies, Carnegie is exploring new approaches that better prepare young people for success in education, careers, and an evolving workforce.




Using Research to Drive Systems-Level Change

Investing in education research and development isn't just about improving schools—it's about strengthening the next generation’s futures. The Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) is a bipartisan coalition that works at both the federal and state levels to ensure that promising research translates into real-world impact. Through state-level infrastructure, policymaker engagement, and research-to-practice strategies, ALI helps turn evidence into policies and programs that can be adopted at scale.


"High-quality career-connected learning doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's built on evidence, driven by educators, and strengthened by state-level research and data collection. As AI and other technological innovations rapidly change the labor market, it's critical that young people have access to these opportunities to ensure their education stays relevant and grounded in real-world skills. We're grateful to Britebound for supporting this work to translate 'what works' into policy and practice – serving all students nationwide.” – Sara Schapiro, Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI)


Britebound's grant supports ALI's work strengthening the connection between research, policy, and practice, helping ensure that promising education research translates into meaningful change for learners. Together, we are helping create the conditions for scalable, career-connected learning opportunities that better serve students, educators, and communities while preparing the next generation for success in a rapidly-evolving economy.



A Shared Goal

Carnegie and ALI are tackling different pieces of the same puzzle — one reimagining what a high school credential can mean, the other making sure good research reaches the classrooms and state policies where it can do the most good. Together, they are working towards the same goal: creating a future where young people have greater access to opportunities that help them learn, grow, and succeed. Britebound’s grants support their efforts to build an ecosystem where research informs practice, innovation expands opportunity, and systemic change creates lasting impact, and promising ideas turn into meaningful action, creating stronger pathways for young people to thrive in education, careers, and life.