Today’s education ecosystem must meet the needs of today’s learners. This means learner-centered outcomes, pathways between education and careers, and policies and practices that support both degree and non-degree programs.
Jobs for the Future’s Education practice works to support systems change in the education ecosystem, influence policies that promote diverse pathways, and identify and apply data-informed, learner-centered solutions.
We develop strategies, design models, and shape policies and practices that help learners earn credentials aligned to quality jobs.
We partner with training providers, educational institutions, and employers to create pathways for young people ages 16-24 who are disconnected from school and work.
We dive into state-specific efforts focused on learner agency and flexible learning to ensure strong, career-aligned learner outcomes.
Grounded in JFF’s legacy of postsecondary networks, Engaging Leaders and Empowering Vision that Actively Transforms Education (ELEVATE) provides the infrastructure, community, and vision needed to achieve enduring state-level impact and move us towards JFF’s North…
Our national movement transforms how U.S. education and workforce systems prepare young people for meaningful careers. With over a decade of leadership in the pathways movement, we bring incomparable expertise, collaboration, and a relentless curiosity…
An argument for erasing the boundaries between high school, college, and careers, and creating one new system that works for everyone. The Problem It’s time to give up tinkering and instead take on a radical…
JFF’s Young Adult Talent team works with young adults, community-based organizations, employers, postsecondary institutions, and other systems partners to support young adults to realize their career goals. The Young Adult Talent Development network is comprised…
Postsecondary education is saturated with credentials that don’t deliver. JFF is catalyzing an effort to help advance development of credentials of value that open doors and carry weight across a lifetime. With more than 40…
Skills are the currency of future-focused colleges and universities. Skills-first learning models, like competency-based education, have the power to transform the U.S. education system, strengthening the education-to-work pipeline and expanding career opportunities to millions of…
It’s time to give up tinkering and instead take on a radical rethinking and restructuring of grades 11-14—the last two years of high school and the first two years of college—in order to increase success for all.
This national network scales proven practices to help more than 4.5 million students earn credentials that lead to well-paying jobs. Nearly half of U.S. community colleges are connected to the Student Success Center Network.
Juan left high school and lost his housing. But he has skills and drive and found a Back on Track program to help him prepare for a career in IT. JFF helps employers leverage an untapped workforce of young adults like Juan who can fill their talent gaps.
We are boldly reimagining how U.S. education and workforce systems meet state and regional talent needs and prepare young people for careers.
Building Equitable Pathways is a community of practice working to create equitable pathways systems so that more Black and Latinx youth and young people experiencing poverty succeed in college and their future careers.
Lone Star STEM supports the implementation of college and career pathways in computer science and cybersecurity to develop a diverse talent pipeline of future tech workers.
The Young Adult Talent Development Network is composed of leaders of more than 35 national and local organizations that are leaders in young adult talent development and employer engagement.
Joel Vargas is vice president of the Education practice at JFF, overseeing programs focused on improving learning systems and outcomes. He was previously vice president of programs and launched our West Coast office in 2015.…
Greg DeSantis is an associate vice president in the Education practice at JFF. He designs and scales the next generation of JFF’s postsecondary education and training strategy. His skills and areas of expertise include: Postsecondary…