The California Cradle-to-Career Data System (C2C) has the potential to be a valuable data tool with the capacity to allow more Californians to successfully navigate the pathways from early childhood to career. If designed with Californians at the center, the system can ignite more informed policymaking as well as improved practices that directly confront barriers and fortifies a future where all residents can thrive.
However, to bring this vision to fruition, the leaders steering the system’s development must acknowledge and support the multifaceted needs of its diverse stakeholders. Our new brief delves into the crucial role of user-centered design (UCD) for building a dynamic data infrastructure that advances California’s education and workforce goals. We leverage what we learned from the development of our California Postsecondary to Prosperity Dashboard and share actionable recommendations to ensure the forthcoming data system is not just accessible, but actively utilized and supports its objectives.
