In Bridgeport, Connecticut, education and workforce development leaders are developing STEM-focused early college pathways as a way to better prepare future graduates for regional industries—advanced manufacturing and health care—in need of more highly skilled workers.

A new brief from Jobs for the Future describes the implementation of this initiative and its potential to change the life trajectories of young people in a city where so many have struggled to make ends meet.

A new report reveals that part-time students are often overlooked by colleges, policy makers and researchers who are looking to increase national college attainment. About two-thirds of part-time students are age 24 or older, and they are more likely to support themselves financially or have children or other dependents. Three-quarters of part-time students are employed, and 42 percent of them work full-time, the study says.