Education leaders have long called for expanded postsecondary pathways. College isn’t for everyone. Unfortunately, many college alternatives, especially career and technical education programs, have a complicated history. In the past, these programs have been criticized for funneling students from low-income families into low-paying jobs. That criticism reinforced a stigma around such programs and led to their decline. Now, a growing number of employers are shifting away from degree requirements and embracing nondegree and skills-based credentials. Still, a significant gap remains between employers’ intended approach and actual hiring practices. This dissonance signals that college degrees will not become obsolete in the foreseeable future, and employers will still need a way to assess the workplace value of a degree or credential.
https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-students-need-more-educational-choices-after-high-school/
