Learning Center
Resources and Tools for Financing Career Pathways
The Learning Center brings together practical tools, instructional resources, research, and funding information to help education, workforce, healthcare, and community partners design, finance, and sustain high-quality career pathway systems.
1. Instructional Resources
Learn how to use the AI Navigator and apply career pathways financing tools.
These instructional resources provide practical, step-by-step guidance for using the AI Navigator, exploring financing opportunities, and developing strategies to support career pathways initiatives.
Instructional Videos
Short videos demonstrate how to navigate the AI tool and use its features to support financing and implementation planning.
- Getting Started with the AI Navigator
- Developing a Career Pathways Financing Strategy
- Exploring Federal, State, and Philanthropic Funding
- Building a Braided Funding Strategy
- Planning for Long-Term Sustainability
Instructional Guides
Downloadable two-page guides provide step-by-step instructions and examples of how to use the AI Navigator for common planning and financing activities.
- AI Navigator Quick-Start Guide
- Understanding the Career Pathways Financing Framework
- Identifying Funding Opportunities
- Developing a Braided Funding Strategy
- Building a Sustainable Financing Plan
- Using AI to Support Implementation Planning
2. Playbook Resources
Explore the foundational framework for financing career pathway systems.
Rodel’s Toolkit for Financing Career Pathway Systems provides a comprehensive framework for understanding, coordinating, and sustaining investments in career-connected education and workforce development.
The playbook guides users through identifying program goals and costs, understanding federal and state funding opportunities, developing partnerships, coordinating multiple funding sources, and planning for long-term sustainability.
Featured Resource
Toolkit for Financing Career Pathway Systems — October 2026
The playbook serves as the primary reference for the AI Navigator and provides the underlying strategies, concepts, and financing approaches used throughout the tool.
Download the Full Rodel Fiscal Playbook (MS Word)
Using the Playbook with the AI Navigator
Users can explore the playbook independently or ask the AI Navigator to help apply its concepts to a specific initiative.
For example, the Navigator can help users:
- Identify which playbook concepts are most relevant to their current planning needs.
- Understand financing approaches and potential funding sources.
- Explore strategies for coordinating federal, state, and philanthropic investments.
- Develop preliminary financing plans and implementation next steps.
3. Additional Resources
Access research, publications, and external tools that support career pathways financing.
This section includes complementary resources that provide additional information about public funding, fiscal policy, grant development, career pathways implementation, and sustainability.
Research and Publications
- Career Pathways Financing Resource Directory
- External Resource Directory
- National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) fiscal and budget resources
- Center for Assessment (CFA) grant development and implementation guides
- Selected research, reports, and case studies related to career pathways financing and sustainability
External Websites and Tools
A curated list of websites can help users explore current funding information, investigate programs, and identify additional research.
Suggested categories:
- Federal education and workforce funding agencies
- State budget and fiscal information portals
- Postsecondary education and financial aid resources
- Workforce development and apprenticeship resources
- Philanthropic funding and research organizations
- Career pathways research and technical assistance organizations
4. State and Community-Specific Resources
Explore federal, state, and philanthropic resources relevant to your location.
Career pathways financing varies across states and communities. These fiscal maps provide information about funding programs, public investments, and philanthropic opportunities that may support career pathways initiatives.
Resources are organized by geography to help users focus on the funding landscape most relevant to their work.
Federal Fiscal Maps
Explore federal programs and funding streams that may support career pathways, including education, workforce development, apprenticeship, postsecondary education, and related activities.
Federal fiscal maps include program descriptions, administering agencies, eligible activities, and potential funding access routes, with information contextualized to participating states.
- Alabama Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Georgia Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Massachusetts Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Missouri Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- New York Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- North Carolina Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Pennsylvania Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Tennessee Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Texas Federal Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
State Fiscal Maps
Explore state-level programs, appropriations, and other funding resources that may support career pathways implementation.
State fiscal maps help users understand how state policies, budget structures, and funding opportunities may support their initiatives.
- Alabama State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Georgia State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Massachusetts State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Missouri State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- New York State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- North Carolina State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Pennsylvania State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Tennessee State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
- Texas State Funding Fiscal Map (MS Excel)
Community and Philanthropic Fiscal Maps
Explore philanthropic organizations, historical investments, and potential funding partners within participating communities.
These resources help users understand regional funding priorities and identify opportunities to engage local philanthropic partners.
- Atlanta Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Boston Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Central-Georgia Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Charlotte Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Dallas Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Demopolis Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Durham Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Houston Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Nashville Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- New York City Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Northeast Tennessee Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- Philadelphia Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
- St. Louis Healthcare Workforce Philanthropy Research (MS Word)
Note: State and community-specific resources are available based on the user’s authorized geography. Funding information is intended to support research and planning; users should verify current availability, eligibility, and application requirements with the appropriate agency or funder.
5. Abbreviations and Key Terms
Understand commonly used terms in career pathways financing.
Career pathways financing involves a wide range of federal and state programs, agencies, funding mechanisms, and policy terminology. This reference section will help users understand abbreviations and acronyms appearing throughout the playbook, fiscal maps, and AI Navigator.
| Acronym | Full Term |
| ABA | Apprenticeship Building America |
| ACF | Administration for Children and Families |
| ACTE | Association for Career and Technical Education |
| AHEC | Area Health Education Centers |
| AJC | American Job Center |
| BHW | Bureau of Health Workforce |
| BHWET | Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training |
| CBO | Community-Based Organization (also Congressional Budget Office, depending on context) |
| CBPP | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities |
| CCDBG | Child Care and Development Block Grant |
| CDS | Congressionally Directed Spending |
| CEDS | Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CLNA | Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment |
| CMS | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
| CNCS | Corporation for National and Community Service (now AmeriCorps) |
| CPF | Community Project Funding |
| CR | Continuing Resolution |
| CRM | Customer Relationship Management |
| CRS | Congressional Research Service |
| CSBG | Community Services Block Grant |
| CSR | Corporate Social Responsibility |
| CTE | Career and Technical Education |
| DAF | Donor-Advised Fund |
| DIF | Disability Innovation Fund |
| DLT | Distance Learning and Telemedicine |
| DOE | Department of Education (state-level usage; the U.S. Department of Education is abbreviated ED in this playbook) |
| DOL | U.S. Department of Labor |
| EAA | Economic Adjustment Assistance |
| ECS | Education Commission of the States |
| ED | U.S. Department of Education |
| EDA | Economic Development Administration |
| EDD | Economic Development District |
| EOC | Educational Opportunity Centers |
| ESEA | Elementary and Secondary Education Act |
| ESSA | Every Student Succeeds Act |
| ETA | Employment and Training Administration (U.S. Department of Labor) |
| ETPL | Eligible Training Provider List |
| FAFSA | Free Application for Federal Student Aid |
| FERPA | Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act |
| FIPSE | Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education |
| FNS | Food and Nutrition Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture) |
| FSA | Federal Student Aid (office of the U.S. Department of Education) |
| FTE | Full-Time Equivalent |
| FY | Fiscal Year |
| GEAR UP | Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs |
| GJC | Good Jobs Challenge |
| HBCU | Historically Black Colleges and Universities |
| HEA | Higher Education Act |
| HHS | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
| HRSA | Health Resources and Services Administration |
| HSI | Hispanic-Serving Institution |
| HUD | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development |
| IES | Institute of Education Sciences |
| IHE | Institution of Higher Education |
| IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
| ITEP | Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy |
| JFF | Jobs for the Future |
| LEA | Local Educational Agency |
| LHHS | Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (appropriations subcommittee) |
| MOA | Memorandum of Agreement |
| MOE | Maintenance of Effort |
| MOU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MSI | Minority-Serving Institution |
| NASBO | National Association of State Budget Officers |
| NCCC | National Civilian Community Corps (AmeriCorps NCCC) |
| NCLB | No Child Left Behind |
| NCSL | National Conference of State Legislatures |
| NIA | Notice Inviting Applications |
| NOFO | Notice of Funding Opportunity |
| NRHA | National Rural Health Association |
| NSC | National Skills Coalition |
| NSF | National Science Foundation |
| OA | Office of Apprenticeship (U.S. Department of Labor) |
| OESE | Office of Elementary and Secondary Education |
| OJT | On-the-Job Training |
| OMB | Office of Management and Budget |
| PAYGO | Pay-As-You-Go |
| PFP | Pay for Performance |
| PHIT | Public Health Informatics and Technology |
| RAP | Registered Apprenticeship Program |
| RFP | Request for Proposal |
| RHTP | Rural Health Transformation Program |
| RPED | Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development |
| RTI | Related Technical Instruction |
| SAEF | State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula |
| SAM | System for Award Management (SAM.gov) |
| SCC | Strengthening Community Colleges (Training Grants) |
| SEA | State Education Agency |
| SHEEO | State Higher Education Executive Officers Association |
| SLDS | Statewide Longitudinal Data System |
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program |
| SNS | Supplement, Not Supplant |
| SQSS | School Quality and Student Success |
| SSS | Student Support Services |
| STEM | Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics |
| TANF | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families |
| TCCU | Tribally Controlled College or University |
| TRIO | Federal TRIO Programs (a set of federal outreach and student-services programs; not a true acronym) |
| UBMS | Upward Bound Math and Science |
| USDA | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| VISTA | Volunteers in Service to America (AmeriCorps VISTA) |
| VR | Vocational Rehabilitation |
| WIOA | Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act |
| WWC | What Works Clearinghouse |