"New Beginnings" issue (February)

A newsletter (for adults) about career readiness (for kids)

Dear Readers,

We have been busy behind the scenes working on an exciting rebranding project. American Student Assistance is now Britebound™! While our mission remains the same, our new name reflects an even stronger vision and clearer dedication to helping all people find their pathways to bright futures and successful careers. (Read about our new brand launch. And, if you had our old newsletter location bookmarked, you can find the new URL here.)

Our new tagline is that we are here to help young people “find their why” and “find their way.” How will we do that? First, by acknowledging and confronting the facts—including the uncomfortable truth that woefully few students today are leaving school with certainty about their why or their way. And, by facing the reality that employers are struggling to find young workers with the specific skills needed for jobs. (Read about the skills shortages.) When we have a firm grasp on the scope of the challenges facing the nation, we can target our partnerships and activity to make the biggest impact in the most strategically important areas. That’s exactly what we’re doing.

One such example is our recent, multi-phase partnership with chef, restaurateur, and author Jamie Oliver. Together, we will develop and launch a mastery-based program aimed at helping millions of young people—including many not served by traditional education pathways—to develop both the confidence and the skills required for work. Jamie Oliver shared his view that, “Britebound is an amazing organization, and their vision is one I totally agree with: helping young people follow their own winding, wonderfully non-linear paths toward something extraordinary. Because that is me, too.” (Read K-12 Dive’s coverage of the partnership.)

Earlier this month, we hosted the Work-Based Learning Forum in Phoenix. These two packed days showcased exactly what’s possible when young people find their purpose. The lessons learned in our sessions about the value of work-based learning were driven home by the event’s other activities. From a thoughtful lunch prepared by aspiring young chefs, to a powerful performance by a youth mariachi ensemble and Diné hoop dancers—there was no shortage of inspiration. Our thanks to the East Valley Institute of Technology, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and to the students, educators, artists, and partners who made the gathering so memorable. (Read more about the event and check out our photos.)

Strong career readiness and exploration programs are invaluable, but they are still far from the norm. In fact, YouScience data shows that some 40% of programs struggle to find employer partnerships, and 66% of CTE leaders say students lack an awareness of their options. (Read the story.) Our work in 2026, and the work of our partners, is indeed cut out for us.

In closing, I wish each of you a successful and enterprising February. We can all feel confident that, one launch and partnership at a time, we are bringing the worlds of education and work closer together for the good of millions of American teens and young adults.

All the best,

Julie

P.S. - Want to connect? You can reach us at pivoted@britebound.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Parents Embrace Career and Technical Education (Inside Higher Ed, January 21, 2026)

The New American Dream Has Parents Easing Up On College Expectations for Their Kids: 35% Are Now Open to Trade School Instead (Yahoo! News, December 19, 2025)

3 Reasons Younger Generations Aren’t Ready for the Workforce — and the Skills They Need To Get There (Yahoo! Life, January 15, 2026)

Let’s Focus on Scaling Career and Future Readiness Programming for All Students (Medium.com, January 7, 2026)

Wolf River Youth Apprenticeship Program Gives High School Students a Head Start (TCH Daily News, January 12, 2026)

The US Wants More Apprenticeships. The UK Figured Out How to Make Them Coveted Roles (Hechinger Report, December 15, 2025)

Peering Into the Future: Look for These K-12 Education Trends in 2026 (EdSurge, January 15, 2026)

Colorado District Teaches Cutting-Edge Skills Needed for a Changing Workplace (The 74, January 7, 2026)

How ‘Open Mic’ Activities Can Improve Writing, Social Skills (K-12 Dive, January 14, 2026)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• SXSW EDU Conference (Austin, March 9-12, 2026 - Learn more)

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 12-15, 2026 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

Lessons From The Road: Sparking Career and Self-Exploration in Middle School (Read the recap)