Career-Connected K-12 Education and Workforce Preparation in Detroit

June 2025 - Current

Summary

The Youth Policy Lab has partnered with Detroit Future City (DFC) to conduct a research study examining Detroit’s career-connected K-12 education landscape and its alignment with current and future workforce needs. YPL is helping to shape the overall approach and direction of the study and leading the quantitative data analysis. This includes assessing the alignment between Career and Technical Education (CTE) availability and enrollment in Detroit and the current and future labor market demands in Southeast Michigan. DFC is holding several focus groups with K-12 education, business, and nonprofit leaders and recent high school graduates to better understand the barriers and opportunities for preparing today’s students for long-term career success. Together, we will develop a summary of the key strengths and opportunities for improvement in the current system and propose actionable recommendations to strengthen career connected learning in Detroit.