Statewide Career Navigation in Action: Turning Goals Into Scalable Systems

As states advance policies to strengthen career navigation and workforce development, many are grappling with how to translate those goals into coherent, student-facing systems. This panel features state leaders and system partners sharing how they are putting policy into practice through aligned data strategies, open career navigation platforms, and cross-sector coordination across K–12, postsecondary, and workforce systems.

Drawing on examples such as Advance Vermont, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and the Nebraska Department of Education, panelists will highlight effective approaches to building and sustaining statewide career navigation tools while also surfacing persistent pain points.

Panelists will share what remains difficult, particularly at the K–12 level, where gaps in access continue to limit the ability to identify meaningful post-high school pathways. Participants will leave with concrete examples, lessons learned, and open questions states are still working to solve as they build career navigation systems that truly work for young learners.