Millions of adults lack the post-secondary education and occupational training needed to obtain jobs providing good wages and benefits, pathways to advancement, and opportunities to avoid long-term poverty. Workers who have completed at least some post-secondary education have lower-than-average unemployment rates, and earn more than workers who only have a high school diploma.

For individuals, challenges to post-secondary enrollment and completion include weak basic academic skills, negative school experiences and lack of exposure to careers and college role models, competing demands of work and family on time available for school, inability to afford school, and numerous stressors associated with poverty. Shortcomings in the post-secondary education system include ineffective approaches to remedial education, an emphasis on longer programs and general education degrees, fragmented and inadequate academic advising and student support services, complex course selection systems and financial aid rules, and insufficient financial assistance.

To address these issues, a variety of organizations and educational institutions across the country have developed approaches to facilitate access to, and success in, post-secondary education. A promising approach has been the development of career pathways programs that combine academic, occupational, and life skills training; financial and supportive services; and well-defined links to employment opportunities.

The Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) study (formerly known as ISIS) is a large-scale, rigorous evaluation of nine innovative career pathways programs across the country.  PACE is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the evaluation is being conducted by Abt Associates Inc. and its partners MEF Associates, The Urban Institute, Berkeley Policy Associates, BCT Partners, the American Public Human Services Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Governors Association. 

PACE programs also received assistance from the Open Society Foundations, Joyce Foundation and Kresge Foundation to support program enhancements and scale-up efforts.

PACE aims to addresses issues of interest to multiple stakeholders, including federal, state, and local policymakers; program operators; researchers; and advocates.  The evaluation will include an impact analysis measuring the effects of the program on individuals’ employment, earnings, and other outcomes; a study of program implementation and operations; and a cost-benefit analysis. 

For more information about the PACE study, please visit the PACE Documents page.

Click here for more information about career pathways.