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Multiple Pathways: 21st Century High Schools that Prepare All Students for College, Career and Civic Participation

Many states are currently developing high school reforms labeled “Multiple Pathways,” built on the fundamental insight that career and technical education – which used to be called “vocational education” – can be academically rigorous. Multiple Pathways policies also allow students to gravitate to schooling themes that are personally relevant, and they hold the potential to substantially improve secondary schooling. This brief builds upon the concept of Multiple Pathways, identifying potential obstacles to Multiple Pathways reform and proposing policies through which states could enhance their capacity to create and strengthen Multiple Pathways programs. Note that this legislative policy brief has been updated. The newer version is available at http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/linking-learning