Governor Ned Lamont announced on Apr. 2 that he has signed Executive Order No. 26-2, which establishes the Connecticut Career Pathways Commission.
The commission is charged with developing a five-year strategic plan aimed at modernizing the state’s career pathways system. The goal is to help students and jobseekers prepare for careers that are sustainable and can adapt to advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and global competition.
The commission will be made up of unpaid volunteers including leaders from K-12 education, higher education, workforce boards, employers, labor representatives, municipal officials, legislators, community members, and students. Miguel Cardona, former U.S. Secretary of Education and commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education, will chair the group.
“Connecticut’s long-term economic competitiveness depends on how well we work together to prepare people not only for the jobs of today but also for the jobs of the future,” Governor Lamont said. “AI, automation, and global competition are reshaping work faster than any of us have seen in our lifetimes. We need a career pathways system that doesn’t just prepare people for today’s jobs, but one that can learn, evolve, and respond to the changes and opportunities we know are coming. We must have a system where students and jobseekers can see the full arc of opportunity…and a system where everyone – from classrooms to campuses to companies – is aligned around shared goals and shared outcomes.”
The executive order directs the commission to gather feedback from stakeholders and the public as it develops its plan. Recommendations will address state laws or regulations needed for improvement or expansion in areas such as funding sources streamlining; credentialing alignment; instructional modernization; credit transfer policies; administrative reforms; data tracking; employer engagement structures; internships; apprenticeships; incentive models; quality standards for pathways; governance processes for ongoing pathway development.
A final report with recommendations is expected by December 31.
