2025 is officially wrapped! It’s that time of the year when we look back on all the milestones and celebrations that defined our year. There were no shortages of moments to celebrate for the California Cradle-to-Career Data System.
Workforce Data Expansion Task Force
We began the year with a series of task force meetings to explore workforce training information that could be included in C2C’s P20W data set. Community members, workforce data experts, and data partners made up the task force and provided a wealth of perspectives. The task force developed recommendations that outlined workforce training-related research topics and the data points needed to answer those questions.
Understanding Student Experiences to Inform Our Tool Development
We continued our efforts to engage with students and hear directly from them about their experiences with preparing for college. Earlier this year, we released our third annual report on how students are managing the transition to college. The Student Experience Report is one of the most important ways that we shape our tool development because it enables us to hear directly from students about the challenges and opportunities they face as they transition from high school to college. Findings from the report tell us how we can support students through their journeys and ensure our work is relevant to their needs.
Initiated Largest Expansion Plan to Date
Workforce training data is an important priority to help state leaders, members of the public, and employers understand how adults prepare for jobs and identify how education and workforce training relate to employment earnings. Shortly after our Workforce Data Expansion Task Force, the C2C Governing Board voted to approve the largest expansion plan to date for the data system with the addition of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency’s California Workforce Development Board and Employment Training Panel and the inclusion of 41 workforce training data elements. This vote brings the state closer to understanding the holistic experience of the workforce in California.
Launched: Student Pathways Data Story
After extensive user-center design work, engaging with stakeholder groups and communities, hosting focus groups, and iterating on our design and development, we launched the Student Pathways Data Story. Launching our first public data tool was one of the most defining moments this year.
The Student Pathways Data Story connects data from TK-12 to higher education, social services, and workforces sectors. Through the dashboard, anyone can access detailed information on education and career outcomes, helping students understand their options for education and career planning. We commemorated the launch with a live, in-person event, uniting leaders from education, social services, and workforce development to celebrate the important milestone.
We’re grateful for the feedback from Californians across the state that helped launch the data tool from an idea to a dashboard. It’s a tool truly built by, and for Californians.
Released: First Step Towards Query Builder
After launching the Student Pathways Data Story, we heard from researchers who expressed interest in accessing the data powering the dashboard. We listened to the feedback and delivered the first step towards our Query Builderproject. Released as a suite of Excel and CSV files, the dataset allows researchers and analysts to explore connected education and workforce data in one place.
Engaging With Educators: Lesson Plan Challenge
Cradle-to-Career is thinking outside the box to engage with communities. Beyond bringing awareness to our tools, we want to ensure that everyone can understand what the data means for them. This year, we launched the Lesson Plan Challenge, a fun and engaging opportunity for educators to bring data literacy into the classroom while helping students understand their college and career options after high school. By working with educators across the state, we hope to inspire creative ways for learners to develop analytical skills and strengthen the connection between classrooms and real-world opportunities.
Looking Ahead
We have no doubt that 2026 will bring just as much collaboration and as many milestones and celebrations as 2025. To learn more about what’s ahead, join us on January 20, 2026, for our 2026 Lookahead Community Conversation.
