In the latest edition of Education Currents, Waypoint’s Jonathan Herrera explores how civics and career-connected learning can—and should—work together to prepare students for life after high school. Too often treated as separate priorities, these approaches complement each other by giving students both the voice to lead in their communities and the skills to thrive in the workforce.

Jonathan points to real-world examples like the National Civics Bee in Kansas, where middle schoolers propose solutions to community challenges, and Ohio’s career pathways programs that embed coaching, internships, and credentials into graduation requirements. Together, they show how readiness for work and readiness for citizenship are two sides of the same coin.

As Jonathan writes, the real measure of high school success isn’t just college enrollment—it’s whether students graduate ready to succeed in their careers, communities, and civic life.