Multiple Pathways: Dropout Prevention Framework

Pathways provide students with clearly defined opportunities to customize their education to meet their unique needs and circumstances and gain real-world knowledge, skills, and experiences leading to high school and postsecondary success.  

Pathways are structured academic and work-based learning opportunities that increase the relevance and alignment of learning experiences to student interests and postsecondary education and workforce skills and goals by providing targeted and personalized instructional and learning programs. This can and should include pathways for students who are missing previous learning and need a pathway to postsecondary options. Developing multiple pathways requires programs, schools, or systems that are tailored to student interest, postsecondary education and workforce opportunity, and community need. Pathways are intended to increase opportunities for success by providing students with options and increase agency in their own learning through rigorous, relevant, and supportive approaches to learning. 

Pathway programs in Colorado include within course and school based course design as well as more formal opportunities such as: Career and Technical Education (courses and certifications); Work-based Learning (job opportunities and work training); Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program (blend of in-person, off-campus, or outside of the classroom opportunities); Concurrent Enrollment; Early College High School; Colorado P-TECH; Online and Blended Learning; and Alternative Education programs or schools.