Key points
According to the Post Graduation Readiness Report by YouScience, 83 percent of students cannot connect the skills from school to future employment. Similarly, recent research shows that while 88 percent of district leaders, teachers, parents, and students rate life skills as very important, only 57 percent of students believe their schools adequately teach the life skills needed for future success. Together, these insights highlight an urgent need to connect classroom learning to future careers by 2025.
Straddling the classroom and business sector, edtech companies are uniquely positioned to help students connect their education to potential careers beyond the classroom in new and engaging ways. Here are three examples:
1. Digital platforms that expand students’ career horizons
New digital platforms like Career Connect have the power to expand students’ career horizons, no matter where they are. Through Career Connect, professionals from a wide range of industries virtually visit classrooms, sharing not only their unique career path, but also how the lessons students learn today can transform into real-world applications.
These interactions make life beyond graduation tangible and inspire curiosity, making classroom lessons timelier and more relevant. Digital tools like these also give corporate partners meaningful ways to engage with the next generation of talent, creating a win-win scenario for education and industry.
2. Expanded industry partnerships
Collaboration between schools and industry leaders has already begun to take root, but by 2025, these efforts will reach new heights. Industry coalitions, technology companies, and local businesses are increasingly recognizing the shared benefits of deeper alignment with schools. We can expect programs connecting students to internships, mentor relationships, and experiential learning opportunities to grow significantly in the coming year.
Verizon Innovative Learning Schools is a good example of this approach. The program brings together schools and districts with Verizon, edtech organizations, and the nonprofit Digital Promise to get internet-connected devices and high-quality learning resources into the hands of students, enhancing how teachers use technology in the classroom. Over the last decade, Verizon Innovative Learning has transformed the learning experience for more than 3 million students by providing schools and districts with the tools they need to thrive in the digital world and bridge the digital divide.
Another powerful example is the STEM Careers Coalition, an alliance of industries and nonprofit organizations collaborating to create equitable access to free STEM content and career connections. With partners like COX, United Airlines, Nucor, LyondellBasell, and many others, the Coalition helps students develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college and a career through high-quality classroom resources, career exploration tools, after school activities, digital content, and more. Since 2019, the STEM Careers Coalition has reached over 10.7 million students ahead of the 2025 goal. This includes 2.97 million in the 2023-2024 school year alone, 65% of which are from Title I schools.
3. Experiential learning redefined
Coding boot camps and community-based apprenticeship programs are redefining experiential learning by promoting hands-on lessons that help students build practical, transferable skills. Going beyond traditional career days or field trips, experiential programs now emphasize sustained engagement. For example, For the Win Robotics helps schools and educators incorporate drones and drone technology into lessons for project-based and hands-on learning that is both educational and fun.
Plus, many schools are already creating programs to connect with local businesses, with some states mandating these activities, as well as federal initiatives like the Invest in America Act. Examples include technology academies and makerspaces embedded within schools that enable students to take on real-world challenges like designing apps for local businesses or solving environmental issues through STEM solutions.
These programs not only develop competency, but also build confidence and agency among students, showing them that their skills can have an immediate impact.
Collaboration for careers
One central truth underpins all these innovations: No single entity can close the career-readiness gap alone. Success depends on collaborative efforts between schools, edtech companies, and businesses to align resources, expertise, and vision.
Schools need the support of forward-thinking organizations that prioritize both equity and user-friendliness in their solutions. Meanwhile, businesses must view their role in education not only as a philanthropic endeavor, but also as an investment in their future workforce. Together, these parties can co-create programs that weave career exploration into the fabric of everyday learning. Such an approach ensures that career readiness is not an isolated activity, but an integral part of the K-12 experience.
Career readiness is not just a buzzword–it’s a critical measure of our education system’s relevance in an increasingly complex world. By thoughtfully implementing innovative tools, fostering meaningful partnerships, and prioritizing collaboration, we can help every student envision–and realize–a future where their skills and ambitions align. As new technologies emerge and career demands evolve, what students are taught in school must change alongside them. By centering the resources and curriculum around career readiness, educators can spark students’ curiosity about their futures. Fundamentally, we are seeing a continued emphasis from stakeholders in and around education on the importance of classroom connections to careers. Going forward, I predict a stronger push to empower students with the tools and resources they need to transform school lessons into future career opportunities.
