ACT announced Friday it’s releasing the Pathways to Success Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to help communities strengthen the connection between education systems and workforce opportunities.
Developed in partnership with Metropolitan Community College of Nebraska and the College of Southern Nevada, the toolkit offers actionable strategies for community leaders, educators, and employers to design and implement effective career pathways. Its goal is to support state and local efforts to prepare learners for high-demand careers while addressing regional workforce needs.
The resource is particularly timely given the U.S. Department of Education’s recent proposal to expand Workforce Pell Grants to include workforce-aligned credential programs, offering a blueprint for creating Pell-eligible programs ahead of the July 1 implementation.
“We are proud to have helped shape a resource that reflects what communities truly need to build stronger education-to-workforce connections,” said Tammy Green, executive director of statewide workforce initiatives at Metropolitan Community College. Ms. Green noted for Nebraska, the toolkit provides an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across education, workforce, industry, and community partners to give more learners access to pathways leading to “good jobs, economic mobility, and long-term success.”
The toolkit outlines five key strategies for successful pathways initiatives: fostering cross-sector collaboration; aligning shared goals; leveraging resources and funding; creating tailored education, training, and IET (Integrated Education and Training) programs; expanding community outreach; and enhancing career pathways with integrated support services. Each strategy includes activities, templates, and case examples that communities can adapt.
The resource is grounded in lessons learned from nearly 600 ACT Work Ready Communities across the country and successful efforts at Metropolitan Community College and the College of Southern Nevada. During the pilot initiative that informed the toolkit, more than 6,000 additional learners enrolled in education programs, with nearly 90% earning a stackable credential. More than one in three improved their score on ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate.
“Strong pathways don’t happen by accident — they are intentionally designed through collaboration and data-driven decision-making,” said Stavan Corbett, executive director of the division of workforce and economic development at the College of Southern Nevada. “We’ve seen it firsthand — this toolkit empowers communities to take that work further, faster.”
Tina Gridiron, chief impact officer at ACT, stated that the toolkit aims to change the reality that “too many learners, especially those from under-resourced communities, face disconnected systems that make it hard to translate education into opportunity.” To lean more about the tool kit, visit this link.
The Pathways to Success Toolkit is available now to community leaders, educators, workforce development professionals, and policymakers seeking to enhance education-to-career alignment.
