Dual-enrollment participation among Alabama high-school students has surged, with numbers doubling from 15,000 in 2020 to 30,000 in 2024, according to the Public Research Council of Alabama. This growth is particularly noticeable at some community colleges, where dual-enrollment students now outnumber traditional learners.

The Career Innovation Center in Fargo, N.D., is nearing the end of its first semester, offering hands-on learning experiences in fields such as nursing, EMS, construction and agriculture. The $35 million facility, a collaboration between local school districts and the North Dakota State College of Science, features labs that simulate real-life work environments, and a second phase of construction will add facilities for engineering, robotics and manufacturing.

The Cherry Creek School District in Colorado is expanding its Innovation Campus to accommodate 70% more students and add nine career-focused programs, including automation, aerospace, EMT and HVAC. The expansion, funded by a 2024 bond measure, aims to provide students with hands-on, industry-aligned training for college, trade certifications and careers.

Houston ISD is set to introduce early-college programs at five high schools beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The district has applied for a planning year in preparation for the launch, with all new offerings structured as a "school-within-a-school" model.

The Kern Community College District in California has launched the Dreamscape Mobile Classroom, a state-of-the-art trailer equipped with 16 VR stations, each featuring headsets, joysticks, haptic feedback chairs and fans. The mobile classroom will travel across the district's extensive service area, bringing immersive educational experiences directly to students at multiple colleges and local schools, aiming to level the academic playing field and expand access to advanced learning technology.

Alaska Airlines plans to station up to 250 pilots at San Diego International Airport in 2026, in a move aimed at enhancing operational reliability and supporting network growth. The initiative, part of a broader expansion in San Diego, will begin with hiring about 90 first officers in the first quarter.

Pratt Industries has opened a 496,000-square-foot packaging plant in Warner Robins, Ga., using recycled materials to produce fruit and vegetable boxes. The facility creates more than 100 jobs and supports local farmers by offering sustainable packaging solutions. US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper attended the opening, highlighting the plant's role in strengthening the local economy.