New Hampshire Learning Initiative
Gallup and the New Hampshire Learning Initiative have collaborated to study the impact of career-connected learning on middle and high school students.
Harnessing Opportunity: The Case for Career-Connected Learning in Middle School
Career-connected learning (CCL) offers New Hampshire middle schoolers vital exposure to future careers, boosting student engagement and broadening their career awareness.
NHLI and Gallup’s 2025 report, Harnessing Opportunity: The Case for Career-Connected Learning in Middle School, builds on prior reports by specifically examining the impact of career-connected learning on middle school learners.
The research reveals that middle school students participating in CCL are more likely to be engaged at school and hopeful about their future. Notably, hands-on experiences and mentorship are linked with higher awareness of new careers and more informed post-high school plans. However, many middle schoolers report limited access to CCL opportunities that interest them, and over half express a desire for more CCL offerings at their school.
This study is made possible thanks in part to support from the Barr Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education and the New Hampshire Department of Education.
