Building pathways to success.
What is cradle to career?
Cradle to career is a community-driven approach to supporting young people throughout every stage of life, from early childhood through adulthood, by helping them meet key milestones that lead to economic mobility. StriveTogether’s work focuses on seven cradle-to-career outcomes, from kindergarten readiness to securing a living-wage job.
Across the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, communities collaborate to ensure that every child has access to the opportunities they need to learn, grow and thrive. Measuring this work along cradle-to-career outcomes allow us to track progress, focus strategies and resources, and ultimately create meaningful change in the lives of children and families.
Powering cradle-to-career success
At StriveTogether, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, from cradle to career. Our approach supports children and families at every stage of life, from early childhood through adulthood, by aligning systems like education, health, housing and workforce development around seven measurable outcomes that lead to economic mobility.
This is the work happening across our national Cradle to Career Network, where communities are coming together to improve outcomes and transform systems. StriveTogether helps these communities move from isolated interventions to lasting change by providing them with connections, support and visibility. With more than a decade of experience driving measurable change, StriveTogether is a trusted leader in advancing outcomes across the country. StriveTogether’s seven cradle-to-career outcomes are:
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- Kindergarten Readiness
- Early Grade Reading
- Middle Grade Math
- High School Graduation
- Postsecondary Enrollment
- Postsecondary Completion
- Employment
How communities lead cradle-to-career change
Grounded in a commitment to results, the cradle-to-career approach drives lasting change by aligning systems to support children and families throughout their lives. Communities bring their visions to life by uniting cross-sector partners around shared outcomes, using data to inform decision-making and keeping young people at the center of every step.
Cradle-to-career transformation starts with strong civic infrastructure: the way a community collectively holds itself accountable to better outcomes for children. Civic infrastructure includes local relationships, shared goals and clear ways of working together. This foundation helps communities move from intention to impact by building trust, using data to make decisions and staying focused on outcomes that matter for children and families. Key elements of cradle-to-career civic infrastructure include:
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- A shared vision that unites cross-sector partners around improved outcomes for children and families
- Data capacity to track progress, uncover disparities and guide decisions
- Collaborative leadership that drives coordinated action across systems
- Sustained investment in people, partnerships and long-term change
These elements help create the conditions for meaningful, lasting impact. When communities work together across sectors, every child has the opportunity to thrive from cradle to career. 
Each community brings this approach to life in ways that reflect its local context, all grounded in a shared commitment to accountability, measurable outcomes and removing structural barriers. Communities use the cradle-to-career model to expand early learning access, strengthen transitions from high school to career and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.
Cradle-to-career strategies are designed for long-term change. They build systems that promote opportunity and deliver stronger outcomes for children and communities.
STRIVETOGETHER CRADLE-TO-CAREER OUTCOMES DATA GUIDES
How education outcomes impact economic mobility
Economic mobility includes economic success, power, autonomy and feeling valued in one’s community. According to Opportunity Insights, only half of children grow up to earn more than their parents, and access to a quality education is a key difference between neighborhoods with high and low upward mobility. The seven cradle-to-career outcomes are key milestones on the path to economic mobility.
Download the Kindergarten Readiness Outcomes Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: When we ensure that all students have strong starts, we set them up for success for the rest of their lives. Kindergarten readiness is closely linked to future academic and life success. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children’s kindergarten classroom engagement was a consistent predictor of high school outcomes, including academic success, graduation, school connectedness, and health outcomes including substance use and physical activity.
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Preschool enrollment and attendance
- Access to early developmental screening
- Parental engagement
- Availability of culturally or linguistically inclusive programs
Download the Early Grade Reading Outcome Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: In the early grades, children begin to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. When students have what they need to be proficient in reading by the end of third grade, they’re four times more likely to complete high school (The Annie E. Casey Foundation). And there’s a big economic impact, too — bringing all adults to the equivalent of a sixth grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in total annual income for the U.S. (Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy).
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Attendance
- Social-emotional learning and curriculum
- Out-of-school-time reading
Download the Middle Grade Math Outcome Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: A strong foundation in math at the middle school level improves future workforce opportunity. According to the Center for Education Policy Research, recent declines in math proficiency “represent a 1.6% decline in present value of lifetime earnings for the average K-12 student (or $19,400), totaling $900 billion for the 48 million students enrolled in public schools during the 2020-21 school year.” Research shows that math support and success is a key factor in future career trajectories, with students with a positive attitude about math being more likely to pursue careers in STEM fields (University of Kansas).
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Kindergarten numeracy
- Teacher qualifications
- Mathematical self-concept
Download the High School Graduation Outcome Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: Graduating from high school is a critical step toward future economic mobility. High school graduation is a major indicator for future earnings. On average, high school graduates make at least $10,000 more annually than individuals who did not complete high school, according to the Census Bureau. High school graduation has been shown to predict health, mortality, teen childbearing, marital outcomes and crime. Increasing the educational attainment of one generation improves the next generation’s academic and social outcomes (Journal of Labor Economics).
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Culturally responsive curriculum
- Sense of belonging
- School mental health supports
Download the Postsecondary Enrollment Outcome Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: Postsecondary enrollment is a critical transition in the cradle-to-career journey. Enrollment in public four-year institutions boosts students’ household income around age 30 by 20% (Annenberg Brown University).
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Social-emotional learning and curriculum
- Access to financial aid
- Summer melt
Download the Postsecondary Completion Outcome Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: Postsecondary degrees are more valuable than ever. The benefits of postsecondary education span across social and economic domains. An associate or bachelor’s degree holder earns, on average, $442,000-$1,051,000 more over a 40-year career than a high school graduate (Census Bureau). For each level of education reached after high school, earning potential increases.
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Early college programs
- Dual-enrollment offerings
- Immigration status
Download the Employment Outcome Data Guide >>
Impact on economic mobility: Employment represents the ultimate outcome, translating knowledge and skills into contributions to the workforce. Employment creates individual fulfillment and economic prosperity for families, communities and future generations.
Factors impacting this outcome:
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- Academic achievement
- Juvenile arrests
- Internship and mentorship opportunities
STRIVETOGETHER CRADLE-TO-CAREER PLAYBOOKS
How to improve cradle-to-career outcomes
The StriveTogether Cradle-to-Career Playbooks are comprehensive guides to the latest research and best practices on the seven cradle-to-career outcomes, made possible by support from the Gates Foundation. Communities can use the playbooks to identify local needs, prioritize areas for collective action and design tailored strategies. With coordinated efforts, we can ensure every child is ready to thrive, from cradle to career.
Mathematica’s Education-to-Workforce Framework is the inspiration behind each playbook’s organization and content. Each playbook includes all of the applicable research, content and aligned essential questions included in the Education-to-Workforce Framework.
Access the Kindergarten Readiness Playbook here >>
Kindergarten readiness is critical for lifelong success — and it begins long before a child enters school. The years from birth to kindergarten are foundational, as research shows that children who are ready for kindergarten are far more likely to thrive in life. Ensuring strong starts requires a community wide investment in education, health care, child care and supportive neighborhoods.
The StriveTogether Kindergarten Readiness Playbook is a comprehensive guide to the latest research and best practices on kindergarten readiness, made possible by support from the Gates Foundation. Communities can use the playbook to identify local needs, prioritize areas for collective action and design tailored strategies. With coordinated efforts, we can ensure every child is ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
Access the Early Grade Reading Playbook here >>
The reading development foundation built in the early grades — kindergarten, first, second and third grade — plays a crucial role in increasing opportunities for all youth. Research shows that children who develop strong early reading skills are far more likely to excel in school and succeed in life.
The StriveTogether Early Grade Reading Outcomes playbook serves as a comprehensive guide to the latest research on and best practices in supporting early literacy. It equips community leaders with the tools to identify opportunities, co-design effective strategies with their communities and build support for collective investment in early literacy.
Access the Middle Grade Math Playbook here >>
Proficiency in middle grade math is a powerful predictor of long-term academic and career success. Students who build strong math skills during these years are more likely to graduate from high school, pursue postsecondary education and access higher-wage careers. Eighth grade math, in particular, serves as a gateway to advanced coursework and STEM opportunities, helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that support lifelong learning and economic mobility.
The StriveTogether Middle Grade Math Outcomes Playbook is a comprehensive guide to the latest research and best practices for this essential outcome, made possible by support from the Gates Foundation. Communities can use the playbook to identify local needs, improve instruction and implement strategies that close gaps and increase access to high-quality math pathways. With coordinated, data-informed action, we can help more students master middle grade math and create lasting impact across education and workforce systems.