Co-design principles for regional STEM pathways: Pre-K-to-career alignment, flexible entry, stackable credentials, industry recognition, and representative instructors¶
Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 2 studies (1 quant-synthesis, 1 theoretical),q1–q3· 0 of 2 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study
Description¶
During the Inquire & Investigate phase, the CAC developed five principles to shape regional STEM pathways: "Align STEM pathways from Pre-K to career"; "Create flexible entry points for all learners"; "Offer stackable skills-focused certifications to ensure smooth credit transfer between institutions"; "Recognize diverse workforce and industry as key to K-12 education"; and "Learners see themselves in instructors, mentors, and industry professionals". The committee also adopted interaction principles for its own collaboration, including open and full collaboration, flexibility, and a win-win mindset.
Design Implications¶
Context¶
Requirements¶
- Cross-sector collaboration among K-12, postsecondary, workforce, and community partners to align pathways across institutions
Constraints¶
- The principles were developed by the San Diego CAC to guide shaping and refining pathways in that region
Target Learners¶
- All learners from Pre-K through career, including excluded learners in the San Diego region
Learning Goals¶
- STEM skill recognition, credit transfer, and STEM identity development toward career pathways
Claims¶
- Intentionally designed career pathways with multiple entry and exit points and stackable credentials receive moderate evidence of improving student outcomes [+W]
- The blueprint asserts that K-12 systems are well positioned to advance students into entry-level career credentials and employment [+W]
Related Designs¶
- San Diego STEM Pathways Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
- Four CAC-developed STEM pathway solution concepts (Inspire to Aspire, CIELO, ATGC, STEM SD Partner Exchange)
Examples¶
-
Key Sources¶
- Babineau, K., Shah, Z., Jacobs, B., Miller, A., Alvarado, B., Aguirre, N., Fennelly-Atkinson, R., & Young, V. (2025). Building Bridges: Cultivating Interconnectedness for STEM Pathways in San Diego. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/254
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
design |
id |
stem-pathways-co-design-principles |
title |
Co-design principles for regional STEM pathways: Pre-K-to-career alignment, flexible entry, stackable credentials, industry recognition, and representative instructors |
description |
During the Inquire & Investigate phase, the CAC developed five principles to shape regional STEM pathways: "Align STEM pathways from Pre-K to career"; "Create flexible entry points for all learners"; "Offer stackable... |
status |
review |
generated |
by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-09 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — babineau-2025 |
Frontmatter is the page's machine-readable record — see the Schema & Guide.