Math Matters: Why Career-Connected Learning May Be Michigan's Missing Equation
By Roger Curtis, Executive Director, Youth Solutions
A recent Bridge Michigan article asks an important question: As Michigan doubles down on literacy, are we giving enough attention to mathematics? The concern is well-founded. Educators, policymakers, and employers alike are watching student math performance stagnate while the demands of our economy continue to become more data-driven, technology-enabled, and mathematically complex.
This is not to underscore Michigan's commitment to literacy. Reading proficiency is foundational to learning and lifelong success. But literacy and mathematics are not competing priorities. They are complementary skills that together prepare students for careers, citizenship, and economic mobility.
The real question we should be asking ourselves is not “should we focus on math?”, but rather, “How do we make math meaningful?”
Connecting math to purpose
For too many students, math feels abstract. They learn formulas, solve equations, and prepare for tests without ever understanding how those skills connect to their future. How many times have we sat at the kitchen table, and listened to our kids ask, “When am I ever going to use this?” as they struggle through homework? Not understanding the “why” behind what they’re learning in school is what creates a disconnect in the classroom. And it’s that disconnect that matters because it leads to less engaged students who start to struggle.
Students are more likely to engage in learning when they can see its relevance. When young people understand how algebra powers advanced manufacturing, how geometry drives construction and engineering, or how statistics influence healthcare, business decisions, and even sports, math transforms from an academic requirement into a valuable life skill.
This is where career-connected learning becomes so important. Career-connected learning bridges classroom instruction with real-world application through career awareness, exploration, work-based learning, industry partnerships, credential opportunities, and career and technical education. Instead of asking students to simply learn math, we invite them to use math to solve authentic problems.
That shift can be transformative.
Employers I talk with around the state regularly identify problem solving, quantitative reasoning, data literacy, and technical skills as critical workforce needs. Whether the industry is manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, construction, agriculture, energy, or finance, math serves as a foundational competency. In addition to this, we also look at Michigan's future, and we expect the increasing demand in technology and AI will require more workers who can analyze information, interpret data, understand measurements, and make evidence-based decisions in order to remain competitive in the job market.
Career-connected learning helps students see this reality early. When students tour an advanced manufacturing facility and watch technicians use precision measurements, analyze patient data while exploring healthcare pathways, or shadow engineers, programmers, financial analysts, or skilled trades professionals, they can see math in action and how their learning relates to real-world situations.
Learning by doing
One of the most compelling observations from the Bridge Michigan article is the discussion about giving students greater confidence in mathematics. Confidence matters because students who believe they can succeed are more likely to persist when concepts become challenging.
Career-connected learning builds confidence through experience.
Imagine a student calculating material costs for a construction project. Or analyzing energy consumption data. Or programming a robotic system. Suddenly, math is no longer a worksheet. It is a tool. Students begin asking a different question.
Instead of "When will I ever use this?" they ask, "How can I use this better?"
That mindset change often makes all the difference.
A statewide opportunity and a path forward
Michigan has made significant investments in career preparedness and talent development, while policymakers and educators have increasingly focused on improving mathematics achievement alongside literacy and other core subjects. Michigan needs a renewed focus on mathematics, especially as employers increasingly seek workers with analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills. But raising math achievement is not simply about adding more instructional minutes, implementing another curriculum, or introducing another standardized test. It starts with helping students understand why math matters.
When students can see the connection between what they are learning in the classroom and the careers they aspire to pursue, engagement changes. Learning becomes relevant. Purpose replaces compliance.
This is exactly the approach Youth Solutions has been advancing across Michigan. Imagine if every middle and high school student had access to:
Career exploration experiences connected to academic subjects
Industry-informed math projects
Work-based learning opportunities
Employer mentors who demonstrate real-world applications
Career pathways that clearly connect classroom learning to future opportunities
As highlighted in our recent white paper, when students understand the "why" behind their education and can see a clear connection between academics and future career opportunities, student engagement increases significantly. Schools implementing career-connected learning have seen measurable improvements in GPA, attendance rates, graduation rates, and school culture, along with reductions in disciplinary incidents and expulsions.
Career-connected learning may not be a math curriculum, but it addresses one of the fundamental barriers to student success: relevance. When students understand why they are learning algebra, statistics, geometry, or data analysis, they are more likely to engage with the material, persist through challenges, and apply those skills in meaningful ways. It is reasonable to believe that the same factors that improve attendance, engagement, and academic performance overall can also contribute to stronger math outcomes.
This format works because it is not just another educational initiative; it is a systems-level approach that connects learning to life. When students can see the destination, they become more invested in the journey. And if we want stronger math outcomes, stronger workforce readiness, and a more competitive Michigan economy, helping students understand the purpose behind their learning may be one of the most powerful solutions available.
Michigan's students are capable of remarkable things. By connecting mathematics to meaningful career opportunities, we can help them build the skills, confidence, and motivation they need to succeed in school, in the workforce, and in life.
The formula is simple:
Student Engagement + Stronger Career Connections = Stronger Student Outcomes.
And that is an equation worth investing in.
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— Roger Curtis
Executive Director, Youth Solutions