As the Purposeful Pathways partnership moves from identifying priorities to implementation planning, UNITE-LA is working with Centinela Valley Union High School District (CVUHSD) and El Camino College to strengthen connections between high school and postsecondary education. During the fourth strategy session, partners focused on expanding equitable access to dual enrollment beyond students already participating in career technical education pathways and creating clearer opportunities for students to earn meaningful college credit while still in high school.

Through root cause analysis and collaborative planning, partners examined barriers to broader dual enrollment participation, including student awareness, course scheduling, instructor availability and qualifications, and the supports students need to navigate college-level coursework successfully. The group also explored opportunities to better align dual enrollment offerings with students’ college and career goals and increase the number of students graduating with meaningful college credit.

The conversation revealed significant overlap between strategies to expand dual enrollment and increase access to summer college courses, allowing partners to streamline the work into a more coordinated approach. CVUHSD and El Camino College are now moving toward smaller cross-institutional working groups that will translate the action plans into implementation, bringing together counselors, administrators, college representatives, and other key partners to identify courses, strengthen student supports and address operational barriers.

The next phase will expand the conversation to middle school partners, with a focus on building earlier awareness of college and career pathways, increasing awareness of dual enrollment opportunities and strengthening connections between feeder schools and high school counselors. Together, these efforts are helping turn the Purposeful Pathways vision into concrete strategies that create clearer, more connected pathways from high school into college and careers.

For more information, please reach out to Antonio Ramirez, Director, L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative, at [email protected].