What is Linked Learning (AB790)?
Linked Learning is an approach to education that transforms the traditional high school experience by bringing together strong academics, a demand- ing technical education, and real-world experience to help students gain an advantage in high school, postsecondary education, and careers. Students can choose among industry-themed pathways in fields such as engineering, arts and media, and biomedicine and health.
Four Components of Linked Learning
• Rigorous academics.
The academic component of Linked Learning includes college preparatory English language arts, mathematics, science, history, and foreign language courses.
• Real-world technical skills.
A challenging technical component of three or more courses that help students gain the knowledge and skills that can give them a head start on a successful career.
• Work-based learning.
A series of work-based learn- ing opportunities that begin with mentoring and job shadowing and evolve into intensive internships, school-based enterprises, or virtual apprenticeships.
• Personalized supports.
Support services including counseling and supplemental instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics that help students master the academic and technical learning.
Why Linked Learning?
High schools are not working for large numbers of young people. In California, almost a third of new ninth-graders drop out before graduating. Another third finish high school but lack the academic and technical readiness to succeed in college or career. Only a third of high school students in California graduate on time and transition easily to postsecondary education and lasting career success.
Linked Learning addresses some of the fundamental chal- lenges facing California’s high schools. Many traditional academic programs do not feel relevant to students’ lives and aspirations. At the same time, traditional career and technical education (CTE) often lacks the academic rigor required for access to and success in college. Linked Learning provides students of all levels and abilities with the best possible chance for success to excel in college and career.
Research shows that Linked Learning students of all demographic profiles have higher rates of persistence and higher graduation rates than their peers at tradi- tional high schools, and they are showing strong scores on state tests.
Visit the Linked Learning Alliance website at http://www.linkedlearning.org for reports on Linked Learning effectiveness.
For more on Connect-ED-Linked Learning at http://www.connectedcalifornia.org/linked_learning