Home > Resources Tools Strengthening Career-Connected Learning: The Building Bridges with Industry Playbook November 10, 2025 STEM Next is proud to introduce the next resource in our ongoing work to strengthen career-connected learning across afterschool and summer programs with the release of the Building Bridges with Industry Playbook. Developed in partnership with Jobs for the Future, the Playbook provides out-of-school-time (OST) education leaders such as state afterschool networks with practical guidance for initiating, strengthening, and sustaining employer partnerships. It includes strategies for planning, outreach, and relationship development, as well as examples of emerging approaches from afterschool networks across the country. An expansion of our career-connected learning strategy This release builds on the momentum of STEM Next’s Career-Connected Learning Framework, which has supported programs over the past several months in creating meaningful learning experiences that help young people explore career interests, build confidence, and connect STEM to real life. As programs have begun using the Framework, a central insight has emerged: high-quality career-connected learning benefits from strong, sustained partnerships with industry and workforce organizations that can open doors to new experiences, role models, and opportunities. The Playbook is a natural complement to the Career-Connected Learning Framework. Where the Framework supports providers in designing meaningful learning experiences that build career awareness, exploration, and preparation, the Playbook focuses on the relationships that expand access to those experiences at scale. Together, these resources help the field offer young people the support, guidance, and real-world exposure that influence how they see themselves and their futures. The Playbook is written for field leaders such as state afterschool networks that operate in varied environments and with different levels of capacity. The guidance emphasizes starting from existing strengths, building readiness over time, and developing engagement that is sustainable for both programs and employers. This approach supports durable systems, not single events, and it helps ensure that young people continue to benefit from career-connected learning year after year. Aligning afterschool learning with evolving workforce needs The Playbook is a cornerstone strategy of STEM Next’s Institute for a STEM Ready America, which scales innovation across afterschool and summer learning so that more young people can prepare for and envision their future careers in an evolving world of work. The Institute supports the field with resources that enhance both program-level learning experiences and the system-level partnerships that make those experiences possible. The Playbook reflects this approach by focusing on the employer relationships and infrastructure that allow career-connected learning to grow and endure. As workforce needs evolve and demand for STEM talent continues to grow, out-of-school time plays a vital role in helping young people develop curiosity, confidence, and a sense of possibility. We look forward to working alongside networks and partners as they use this resource to strengthen employer relationships, expand opportunity, and deepen career-connected learning across the country. A strategic partnership We extend a special thank you to our partners at Jobs for the Future (JFF) for their collaboration on this body of work. It grew from JFF’s co-leadership of communities of practice convened by STEM Next with out-of-school time (OST) leaders, whose insights underscored the need for a practical guide to initiate and sustain employer partnerships for OST career-connected learning. JFF is a national organization dedicated to transforming U.S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for people, businesses, and communities. Learn more about JFF at www.jff.org In case you missed it STEM Next and Jobs for the Future recently hosted a virtual launch event to introduce the Playbook and discuss opportunities for afterschool and summer programs to build stronger career-connected learning pathways. Get the recording here. View the Webinar Recording Disclaimer: STEM Next created the Building Bridges with Industry Playbook as part of its Exploring Career Connections in STEM initiative, a project supported by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by STEM Next Opportunity Fund and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.
