The way America prepares young people for work and life is being disrupted. Clear-cut institutional boundaries that historically separated the programs and responsibilities of high schools, colleges, and employers are now permeable boundaries.
One well-known example of these permeable boundaries is earn-and-learn apprenticeships for young people. These apprenticeships combine a job that pays with adult mentorship and related classroom instruction provided by a high school or other education and training institution. On the other hand, high school dual enrollment programs are a below-the-radar example of this disruption of institutional boundaries.
This disruption poses huge challenges for schools, colleges, and employers. But Americans have risen to this challenge before.
