In this white paper, the authors situate the critical issue of preparation for the workplace in the broader context of students' constitutional right to an education that provides the knowledge, skills, experiences, values and dispositions that are the foundations to be a productive citizen. They tie the renewed concern about preparing students for competitive employment with growing interest among educators, policymakers, business leaders, and the public at large with the need to prepare students to be effective citizens capable of safeguarding our democracy and stewarding the nation toward a greater realization of its democratic values. They propose some necessary reforms to improve students' access to existing New York's career and technical education pathways. But, they argue, high quality career pathways, including "9-14" programs that bridge secondary and postsecondary education, only serve students well if they are constructed on a strong foundation of basic educational opportunity for all, one that does not presently exist in New York or in most other states. [For the policy brief, see ED610540.]