By Amanda Olberg

The CBIA Foundation’s new report, Connecticut Workforce & Education Strategy Blueprint, makes a compelling case for improving high school career pathway programs as a means to strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline and expand economic opportunity in Connecticut.

The report offers a clear set of recommendations to respond to gaps in the current landscape of these programs relative to market demand, informed by input from stakeholders statewide along with what we can learn from what’s working in other states.

But as the new Connecticut Career Pathways Commission launches in parallel to the publication of this report, it is critical to ensure we also prioritize the population of young people experiencing disconnection who are beyond the reach of such school-based programs.

In 2023, research commissioned by Dalio Education and produced by Boston Consulting Group revealed that 119,000 young people — one in five — are disconnected from school or work in Connecticut, or at risk of becoming disconnected….

…. These young people have tremendous potential, and our state stands to benefit from an annual fiscal impact of up to $750 million if we reconnect them to the workforce. But to make that happen, our state needs to invest in the community-based programming that prepares young people impacted by disconnection to secure and sustain gainful employment….

…. One of our nonprofit partners, Domus Kids in Stamford, recently completed an implementation and outcomes evaluation with Child Trends, the leading U.S. research organization focused on improving the lives of children, youth and families.

Child Trends found strong long-term outcomes for young people served by DomusWorks, the organization’s workforce development program….

…. As a parallel research project to the one produced by the Boston Consulting Group in 2023, Dalio Education had commissioned MDRC, a nonpartisan social policy research organization, to undertake a scan of programs, practices and policies across the country that help or hinder young people in reconnecting to school and work. This study focused on those who are reluctant to actively seek supports, and those who have been impacted by the justice system.

The MDRC report underscored that there are not nearly enough programs like Domus that serve the young people who need supports the most — a challenge not unique to Connecticut, but true nationwide.

Further, MDRC emphasized, for those programs that do exist, they are not adequately funded to do the level and quality of work necessary, over the time horizon required, to successfully re-engage young people who are disconnected.

Improving high school career pathways is an important component of strengthening Connecticut’s workforce pipeline in furtherance of expanding economic opportunity. But to reconnect the 63,000 young people experiencing disconnection in Connecticut, our state must also make a commitment to invest in the community-based programs serving those beyond the grasp of schools.

Full article