It’s not enough to advocate for youth career-connected learning on an individual or organizational level. Career-connected learning must be part of policy agendas at the state level and strategic plans at the school level. It needs to be an integral part of every learner’s experience from early grades and beyond. This requires trust in the quality and outcomes of those experiences. However, according to a study we conducted with the Education Strategy Group (ESG), less than a quarter of states’ policies can currently be classified as “advanced” in terms of identifying career exploration as a high priority for state agencies, districts, and schools.
That’s why Britebound is excited to support organizations like TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project), the Wyoming Heritage Foundation with the Wyoming Business Alliance, Funders for Adolescent Science Translation (FAST), and Advance CTE that try to make lasting change at the policy and systems level. Their dedication to improving and increasing the amount of youth career-connected learning programming and opportunities is why we’re proud to call them grantees.
Keep reading to learn more about them.
Putting Family First
TNTP is an organization that “strives to prepare 50 million young people for meaningful work and meaningful lives by 2035.” It works alongside schools, districts, states, and education leaders to implement systems change to strengthen curriculum and instruction, build coherent learner experiences, and connect learning to postsecondary pathways.
TNTP believes strongly that families are essential partners in a young person’s education and career journey, and as such are working to advance family-driven systems change through landscape analyses, parent leader networks, youth summits, and a national playbook highlighting effective family engagement strategies in career-connected learning.
“Young people need more than credentials to navigate the economy they’re inheriting — they need the capability, connections, and confidence to shape their own futures. Career-connected learning is how we make education relevant and real. Through this grant from Britebound, we’ll elevate family leadership, connect students to immersive learning experiences, and help them build the skills and relationships essential for long-term success.” — Dr. Tequilla Brownie, CEO, TNTP
In addition to including families to expand youth career readiness systems change, TNTP will also use the grant to develop strategic roadmaps that remove barriers to career pathways, enhance experiences within pathways, and align career-connected learning with high-skill, future-ready careers. This will positively impact young people’s future preparedness and improve access to CCL, resulting in increased student participation in dual enrollment, CTE, and work-based learning opportunities.
Bringing Systems Change to Wyoming
The Wyoming Heritage Foundation, along with the Wyoming Business Alliance, work to promote Wyoming’s economic heritage and values and to develop principled and knowledgeable leaders across the spectrum of public and private leadership positions. When it comes to preparing youth for success, they focus on building the future workforce by connecting learners to entrepreneurial opportunities, mentoring, and local careers.
“Wyoming’s growing business sector is eager to partner with educators to support career-readiness. We are so appreciative of Britebound for its commitment to work-based learning and its support of students, parents, teachers and industries. The WBA and WHF are thrilled to expand our efforts to cultivate talent for Wyoming employers.” — Renny MacKay, President, Wyoming Heritage Foundation and Wyoming Business Alliance.
With their grant from Britebound, the organizations will expand the state’s Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) initiative. Launched in 2021, the effort’s overall goal is to help elevate Wyoming’s primary and secondary education system and bring it into the future. This involves competency-based, student-centered models, professional development, and industry partnerships to transform how middle and high schoolers experience career-connected learning throughout the state.
