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A 1995 Gallup Survey reported that a majority of Americans believe our youth need help making a successful transition from school to work and that the public expect high schools to provide that assistance. Yet half of all adults in the survey said high schools were not doing enough to help students choose careers and develop job skills (Hoyt and Lester 1995).

Employers and policy makers are increasingly aware that economic development is interconnected with workforce development and a strong system of secondary and postsecondary education because employee skill levels, attitudes and ability to respond to change are directly related to productivity and profits.

Thus, parents, students, educators, employers and policy makers are all seeing a need for changes in the education system to prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the world of work. One strategy which has proven effective is organizing schools around career pathways. A career pathway is an integrated, multi-year sequence of career guidance, course work, and work-based learning experiences that enables students to explore a variety of career choices and provides a context for learning (National School to Work Office, 1997).