Advancing Education and Workforce Alignment through Statewide Collaboration
Recently, College Promise launched two initiatives focused on improving educational and labor market outcomes for two groups: parenting students and male mobility. The Parenting Students Initiative brought together leaders from six states—Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington—to identify policies and practices that strengthen access, completion, and workforce outcomes for parenting students. State teams examined data, existing supports, policy opportunities, and cross‑sector partnerships to better serve one of higher education’s largest yet often overlooked populations. While support systems exist, they are rarely recognized across higher education, workforce development, childcare, housing, and social services. The goal is to establish parenting students as a distinct population so systems can coordinate more effectively. This initiative brings agencies and institutions into a shared conversation, builds cross‑sector coordination, and develops replicable models that help states align supports more effectively. By elevating parenting students in policy and practice and strengthening collaboration across existing systems, this work seeks to improve educational attainment, reduce administrative barriers, and ensure families receive the integrated support they need to succeed.
About 1 in 5 postsecondary students in the United States are parents, totaling about 1.1 million student parents nationwide (New America, 2026).
In parallel, College Promise convened a multi-state learning community with stakeholders from Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire to improve educational and economic mobility for men. Nearly seven million men ages 18-54 are neither working nor seeking work (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Men without college credentials leave both education and workforce systems at higher rates, yet Promise programs and American Job Centers often operate separately that may result in coverage gaps for men that need it the most. The Male Mobility Initiative aims to strengthen coordination between systems serving these men. Working with leaders across higher education, workforce agencies, employers, economic development organizations, and community partners, states explored strategies to better align education and workforce systems, increase postsecondary participation and completion, and create clearer pathways into high‑demand, family‑sustaining careers. The initiative produced state-specific landscape analyses, policy recommendations, and implementation strategies designed to connect existing systems rather than build new ones. It also includes cross‑training that helps education, career services, employers, and workforce leaders better understand Promise eligibility and equips Promise advisors with basic labor market intelligence, along with simple referral protocols that guide staff on when and how to connect learners across systems.
Approximately 7 million men are neither pursuing education, employment or training in the United States.
Virtual Peer Learning Sessions
Across both initiatives, stakeholders from select states—including education leaders, state boards, nonprofits, and employers—participated in four virtual sessions. Teams identified priorities, built coalitions, shared effective strategies, and developed action plans. Over two months, leaders gained a clearer understanding of shared goals and strengthened their ability to support parenting students and men. These sessions showed that coordinated systems can better recognize distinct populations and create pathways that lead to long‑term educational and economic success.
Next Steps
The next phase will focus on strengthening statewide coordination between education and workforce systems. Participating states will host in‑person convenings to deepen collaboration and refine structures that support economic mobility. If you live in Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, or Washington, look for convenings in your area.
For states not yet involved, College Promise welcomes partners interested in advancing this work. We will continue publishing insights and tools that help leaders recognize distinct learner populations and design systems that connect education and workforce pathways. If your state is interested in joining future convenings or learning more, we encourage you to connect via info@collegepromise.org.
Conclusion
As these initiatives evolve, one theme remains clear: aligning education and workforce systems is essential for long‑term economic mobility. Parenting students and prime‑age men navigate complex pathways across colleges, job centers, childcare providers, employers, and community organizations. When systems operate in isolation, learners face barriers; when they collaborate, students gain coordinated support and clearer career pathways.
College Promise is committed to strengthening this alignment. By bringing leaders together, building shared priorities, and connecting education and workforce development, we help communities design systems that recognize learners as future professionals. This work supports parenting students and men while helping states build resilient, future‑ready workforces.
Continue the Conversation at the College Promise Careers Institute
Join us October 21–22 in Los Angeles for the College Promise Careers Institute, where education, workforce, business, philanthropy, and government leaders will come together to explore innovative strategies for advancing economic mobility, including dedicated sessions on supporting parenting students and expanding opportunity for men.
About College Promise
College Promise advances educational and economic opportunity through more than 450 Promise programs in all 50 states, supporting over two million learners each year. Our work includes building models that better align education and workforce pathways, especially in communities where students face barriers beyond the classroom. Through convenings, learning communities, and coordinated support structures, we help states strengthen policies that improve outcomes.
College Promise would like to extend our appreciation to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation for supporting research on male mobility and to the ECMC Foundation for investing in cross-sector collaborations for parenting students. Together, these efforts underscore a shared commitment to building coordinated education and workforce systems that recognize learners’ realities, strengthen economic mobility, and ensure every community has the tools to help students succeed.