SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released a report and recommendations about expanding a high school transformation approach that links rigorous academic course work, career technical training, work-based learning opportunities and greater student supports. The approach, originally known as Multiple Pathways, is now referred to as Linked Learning.
"Linked Learning is a promising approach to transforming our high schools so students graduate career and college ready and ready to be successful in the global economy of the 21st Century," O'Connell said. "This report provides a roadmap for policymakers as they consider ways to systemically transform our high schools and significantly improve results for children."
The report, titled Multiple Pathways to Student Success, Envisioning the New California High School, was written in response to AB 2648 authored in 2008 by speaker-emeritus Karen Bass. The legislation required the California Department of Education (CDE) to explore the feasibility of establishing and expanding the Linked Learning approach in increasing success for California's high school students. Funding for the report came from the James Irvine Foundation and the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006.
"Multiple Pathways helps keep kids in school—keeps them in the game until they cross their own personal goal line – whether it's college, a profession, or a good job you can raise a family on," Bass said. "Multiple Pathways doesn't just prepare students, it empowers them."
Students enrolled in a pathways program are more likely to pass the California High School Exit Examination as sophomores, to graduate from high school, and to complete college entrance requirements. Students in these career-themed programs also get hands-on learning experience in real-world learning environments.
"Linked Learning is a way to remove what is now a false and faulty separation between academic rigor and career preparation. Our students need both if they are to succeed," O'Connell said.
Anne Stanton, Director of the James Irvine Foundation's Youth program said, "We applaud this report's bold vision for transforming high schools in California to promote increased student engagement and achievement. We look forward to working with the Department of Education and educators across the state to make high-quality Linked Learning programs available to all interested students."
L.A. Area Chamber Senior Vice President of Education & Workforce Development David Rattray said, "We support the bold and creative recommendations within this report, which answer the challenge of looking at a total transformation of California high schools through the Linked Learning approach. The business community has been and will continue to be engaged in driving reform at school sites helping to guide curriculum and projects and provide students with real-world examples of how they can use what they are learning in the workplace."
The report includes a number of key recommendations for policymakers and education advocates to consider, including:
- Revising the California Education Code to state that the purpose of high school is to educate and prepare all students to be postsecondary and career ready upon high school graduation
- Moving the high school system from a seat-time/course completion system to a system where students progress based upon mastery of identified standards
- Augmenting the accountability system to foster college and career readiness, increasing of graduation rates, and decreasing the number of dropouts
- Changing the financing of high schools to an enrollment-based system and tie a portion of the funding to student graduation and retaining students in school
- Expanding curriculum and instruction options support rigor and relevance within the high school system
- Consolidating Career Technical Education into a coherent system
- Improving the conditions to establish and expand Linked Learning programs.
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