The Education Design Lab (The Lab) launched an equity-centered design initiative named Designers in Residence 2.0: Accelerating Pathways (DIR 2.0) in June 2023. Building on the success of Accelerate ED, the project’s goal is for colleges to design accelerated dual enrollment pathways that cater specifically to students for whom traditional educational routes have proven ineffective.

Equity-Centered Design: Collaboration for Transformation

The Lab selected senior leaders from six postsecondary institutions to participate in this innovative cohort learning model. Collaborating with regional ecosystem partners, including representatives from K-12, employers, local government, community organizations, students, and parents, these leaders are tasked with designing and launching K12-to-career accelerated guided pathways. The goal is to create pathways that are not only broadly accessible but also affordable, responsive to students' needs in earning a family-supporting income, and explicitly aligned with high-wage and high-growth occupations that lead to an associate’s degree one year out of high school. This initiative supports students comprehensively across academic, career, and social-emotional domains.

One crucial learning that has surfaced during the planning phase is the significance of centering learners and families in the design process. Acknowledging that students are the primary stakeholders, this insight emphasizes the importance of understanding their unique needs, perspectives, and aspirations. High school students and parents are key members of each college’s regional design team to ensure that their lived experiences are included in the design of the pathways. By placing learners and families at the core of decision-making processes, the project aims to create educational experiences that are responsive, inclusive, and personalized, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment.

At the heart of DIR 2.0 lies the commitment to equity-centered design, a process and methodology that prioritizes fairness, inclusivity, and justice in the development of educational pathways. Recognizing the tendency of traditional design processes to perpetuate inequities, this approach actively involves designing with those closest to the problems being addressed. Extensive research and engagement with diverse stakeholders, particularly those who are marginalized and underrepresented, aim to challenge biases, power imbalances, and systemic barriers.

Designer in Residence Jackie Thomas, Lone Star College-Tomball, listens to a student at Arlington Career Center.

Real-World Implementation: A Visit to Arlington Career Center

To provide the designers with a hands-on experience of equity-centered design, The Lab visited the Arlington Career Center in Arlington, Virginia, during the project's kickoff in June 2023. During this session, a room full of students were asked about their hopes and dreams for their futures, what barriers might get in the way of them reaching their dreams, and what supports might help them. The designers then listened as the students developed ideas to help them reach their goals, ultimately settling on three prototype ideas they are working on. Collaborating with students through a design process, the session exemplified the transformative outcomes that result from the intersection of equity-focused design and student engagement.

One junior student, Ananya Sinha, shared her thoughts on the experience, highlighting the unique perspective students bring to the table. Ananya expressed the reward of being in an environment where their ideas were taken seriously, emphasizing the value of student voices in shaping the future of education and career pathways. She recognized the power of diverse perspectives and the ability of each student to be an agent of change.

DIR 2.0 is not just a project; it's a commitment to reimagining education by placing equity, inclusivity, and student voices at the forefront. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of these initiatives on students and their communities, ultimately shaping a more just and equitable future for education. For more information, visit the DIR 2.0 webpage.

Education Design Lab is a League partner and Innovations 2024 Advocate Sponsor.