Since 2002, the collective vision of both the National Alliance of Partnerships for Equity (NAPE) and the NAPE Education Foundation (both referred to hereinafter simply as NAPE)  is to provide an equitable Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce fully reflective of the nation’s rich diversity.

In pursuit of our vision, our mission is to build educators’ capacity to implement effective solutions for increasing student access, educational equity, and workforce diversity. In so doing we also seek to expand career options and the economic potential of America’s current and future workforce by collaborating with stakeholders to build the capacity of teachers, administrators, parents, and employers. 

CTE and STEM pathways offer access to high-skill, high-wage, in-demand careers, yet disparities persist by gender, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic, and differing ability status. There are many root causes for the disparities, and it can be challenging to know where to start to influence change.

NAPE strives to create equitable learning environments where each student thrives and receives an education that prepares them to earn a living wage. To achieve this, we provide data-driven research, training, and evaluation to transform education and workforce systems at the individual, institutional, and system levels across the United States. We approach our work of broadening opportunity and success where equity and identity intersect to include gender, race, culture, ability, and socioeconomics. We use our vast experience and expertise to address gender equity for underrepresented students in CTE and STEM . We provide equity-focused resources, tools, and technical assistance, and we advocate for public policy that supports educational equity and workforce diversity.

NAPE seeks to enhance participation in CTE and STEM traditional and non-traditional students with the potential to succeed in these fields.  We place particular emphasis on the following populations as reflected in our charter and applicable federal law:

• Underrepresented racial and ethnic populations, 
• Women, 
• Individuals in the LGBTQ+ community
• Persons with disabilities, 
• Persons from economically disadvantaged families, including low-income youth and adults,
• Individuals preparing for nontraditional fields,
• Single parents, including single pregnant women,
• Out-of-workforce individuals
• English learners,
• Individuals impacted by homelessness,
• Youth who are in, or have aged out of, the foster care system, and
• Youth with a parent who is a member of the armed forces and is on active duty.

NAPE serves its stakeholders by providing professional development to educators, providing technical assistance and consulting to states and local education agencies, engaging in equity research, and applying research findings to improved practice.  Examples of offered courses include the following: 

• Micromessaging to Reach and Teach Every Student
• Program Improvement Process for Equity
• Explore Nontraditional Careers
• Ensuring Equity in Problem Based Learning
• Eliminating Barriers through Culturally Responsive Teaching