2013 Snapshot: Linked Learning in Motion

Its about equity, belief in the potential of young people and the future of California.

Click here to start.

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Lost potential
Linked Learning integrates rigorous academics with real-world experiences. This approach transforms education into a personally relevant, wholly engaging experience and opens students to career and college opportunities they never imagined.

California high school students who do not graduate in four years

21% of all students

850,000
They can expect unemployment or low wages.

California youth, ages 16 to 24 are neither in school nor working.

27% of Latino students

34% of African American students

new achievement
Linked Learning is transforming education A practical, proven approach
Linked Learning incorporates four elements that research shows as essential to student success.
Rigorous academics Real-world experience

Irvine commitment

Real-world experience Rigorous academics

Greater achievement
Igniting students passions
Linked Learning creates meaningful experiences in areas that interest students, called pathways.

Anne Stanton, Irvine Youth Program Director

Work-based learning

Personalized support

Irvine has already invested more than $100 million in Linked Learning as the best way to give all California youth the opportunity to reach their potential.

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The James Irvine Foundation is leading development of a field that is advancing Linked Learning as an approach that works for all students in California.

Create the Framework and Infrastructure

Demonstrate in High Schools

Extend in Districts and Beyond

pilot and support statewide

High school students participating

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

0
Click a year above to see the growing number of California high school students participating in a certified Linked Learning pathway.

California Linked Learning Alliance

6 33 54

State agencies Business, industry and trade organizations Education organizations and associations

See the full list of Alliance members.

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The James Irvine Foundation is leading development of a field that is advancing Linked Learning as an approach that works for all students in California.

Create the Framework and Infrastructure

Linked Learning builds on decades of experience gained by California schools that combine academic and career-based learning to generate high student achievement. In 2009, Irvine funded The Bridgespan Group to produce a framework for developing a strong Linked Learning field. Irvines investments have been made based on this field-building approach, including support for two vital organizations. ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career advances Linked Learning practice, policy and research. ConnectEd supports communities in developing Linked Learning pathways. The Linked Learning Alliance is a statewide coalition of education, industry and community organizations that is expanding access for Californias young people to Linked Learning. View the set of Irvine Linked Learning grantee organizations. Read The Strong Field Framework from The Bridgespan Group.

High school students participating

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

9 0 0 0
Click a year above to see the growing number of California high school students participating in a certified Linked Learning pathway.

California Linked Learning Alliance

6 33 54

State agencies Business, industry and trade organizations Education organizations and associations

See the full list of Alliance members.

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EVIDENCE

ACTION

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The James Irvine Foundation is leading development of a field that is advancing Linked Learning as an approach that works for all students in California.

Demonstrate in High Schools

With Irvine support, a network of 16 high schools, occupational programs and nonprofit organizations providing elective courses has delivered Linked Learning programs to thousands of California high school students beginning in 2006. They represented urban and rural communities spanning the state.

High school students participating

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

16 high schools thousands of students

An evaluation during the 200708 academic year compared the achievement of participating students with statewide averages. Participants showed higher graduation rates and better pass rates on the California High School Exit Exam. They demonstrated deeper engagement in school and completed more courses needed to prepare for Californias four-year public colleges. View the network of Linked Learning demonstration sites.

1 3 0 0 0
anticipated

Click a year above to see the growing number of California high school students participating in a certified Linked Learning pathway.

California Linked Learning Alliance

6 33 54

State agencies Business, industry and trade organizations Education organizations and associations

See the full list of Alliance members.

OVERVIEW

progress

EVIDENCE

ACTION

voices

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The James Irvine Foundation is leading development of a field that is advancing Linked Learning as an approach that works for all students in California.

Extend in Districts and Beyond

With support and leadership from The James Irvine Foundation, a growing field of educators, providers and partners is working together to make Linked Learning available to youth across the state. Strengthening school districts: The California Linked Learning District Initiative demonstrates how a systematic approach to Linked Learning works in nine school districts and communities. The 150,000 students these districts serve are predominately non-white and economically disadvantaged. Evaluation shows participants on track for high school graduation, preparing for college and building career and life skills. Connecting through colleges: Postsecondary institutions prepare teachers to instruct in Linked Learning schools. Community colleges and the California State University system are using Linked Learning to increase relevance and achievement in the classroom. Engaging out-of-school youth: The Opportunity Links for Youth Initiative applies Linked Learning to re-engage those who are no longer in school, who are underemployed or unemployed, and who are actively seeking a way into college.

High school students participating

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2 0 0 0 0
anticipated

Click a year above to see the growing number of California high school students participating in a certified Linked Learning pathway.

California Linked Learning Alliance

6 33 54

State agencies Business, industry and trade organizations Education organizations and associations

See the full list of Alliance members.

OVERVIEW

progress

EVIDENCE

ACTION

voices

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The James Irvine Foundation is leading development of a field that is advancing Linked Learning as an approach that works for all students in California.

Pilot and support statewide

With mounting evidence that Linked Learning helps students graduate and prepare for success in college and career, the California Department of Education is offering assistance to local education agencies that launch Linked Learning programs. The Linked Learning Pilot Program will be used to assess how Linked Learning can be expanded to schools across the state. This program is expected to involve 63 districts and county offices of education. Together, these agencies serve more than 600,000 high school students, 30 percent of Californias total. Irvine grantmaking will adapt to reflect this remarkable expansion of Linked Learning.
Linked Learning Pilot Program, California Department of Education

High school students participating

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2 7 0 0 0
anticipated

Click a year above to see the growing number of California high school students participating in a certified Linked Learning pathway.

California Linked Learning Alliance

In addition, the state legislature allocated $250 million to establish a California Career Pathways State Fund. This major investment boosts and affirms the value of work-based learning, a core Linked Learning element.
Sources: Linked Learning Alliance, news release, 2013; California Department of Education, CalEdFacts

6 33 54

State agencies Business, industry and trade organizations Education organizations and associations

See the full list of Alliance members.

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The success of Linked Learning is fueled by studies that test its effectiveness, document its outcomes and inform its practitioners. View the three types of activity vital to expanding and enhancing this approach throughout California.

Evaluation

Research

Improvement

SRI International is conducting rigorous evaluation of the Linked Learning District Initiative a systemic demonstration of this approach.

Our focus

The multiyear evaluation for this large initiative is two-fold: to document the work, results and lessons from districts that are applying Linked Learning systemically; and to measure the effect of this comprehensive implementation on student outcomes.

findings
Districts embrace systemic approach With strong local leadership, nine districts are using a systemic approach to improve student access to high quality Linked Learning pathways featuring relevant and rigorous curriculum. Each of these districts is committed to Linked Learning as its primary high school reform strategy. Students gain career and life readiness
problem +4% solving

Students achieve more college prep

+6.8 a-g
credits

Whats next

completed by Linked Learning students in first two years of high school.

Reports on the fourth year of the initiative will identify core characteristics in district systems that provide high-quality Linked Learning experiences, and add important data on student outcomes. A related Irvine-funded evaluation examines how a Linked Learning approach can help students make successful transitions to postsecondary institutions.

+17%
teamwork toward shared goal

+17% and technology

using information

+13%
working with other professionals

Collaboration Gains
+9%
understanding expectations

Improved Professionalism

+10% quality work

responsible for

+19% skills

presentation

OVERVIEW

progress

EVIDENCE

ACTION

voices

EVIDENCE
The success of Linked Learning is fueled by studies that test its effectiveness, document its outcomes and inform its practitioners. View the three types of activity vital to expanding and enhancing this approach throughout California.

Evaluation

Research

Improvement

Multiple studies show that Linked Learning improves student outcomes and provides a basis for systemic high school reform.

Our focus

Linked Learning and other similar approaches have been the subject of past research demonstrating positive results for students. Several studies funded by Irvine complement the Linked Learning District Initiative evaluation and deepen understanding of how systemic implementation of the approach increases impact on student achievement in high school, college and career.

findings
Greater postsecondary enrollment Reduced barriers to success

9% more

72%

of Linked Learning students agree:

Linked Learning students attended four-year postsecondary education, compared to their peers.

I know a lot about college and career planning.

Whats next

Increased income after high school Male students participating in programs combining academics and career preparations earned

A study of Linked Learning district systems that will provide a cost-benefit analysis to inform policymakers on expected investment and return.

95%

Higher high school graduation rates of 12th-grade students in California Partnership Academies graduated

$10,000 MORE
in the four years following high school.

compared to 85% of 12th-grade students statewide.

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progress

EVIDENCE

ACTION

voices

EVIDENCE
The success of Linked Learning is fueled by studies that test its effectiveness, document its outcomes and inform its practitioners. View the three types of activity vital to expanding and enhancing this approach throughout California.

Evaluation

Research

Improvement

A Linked Learning data system is in development to give school districts information that supports continuous improvement.

Our focus

Provide timely data on student enrollment and achievement for district leaders, generating information to help them monitor and improve pathway development and student success.

whats next
Tracking critical indicators agreed upon by all participating districts Equity and high school participants Ethnicity Free or reduced lunch 8th-grade math scores English language learner Special needs Academic achievement a-g completion rate Math proficiency (Early Assessment Program) English proficiency (Early Assessment Program) Grade point average CAHSEE pass rate Postsecondary Postsecondary enrollment rate Postsecondary start without remediation Dual enrollment participation 1st year credit accumulation Student engagement Four-year graduation rate Attendance rate Course pass rate Suspensions Pathway persistence Work-based learning Work-based learning experience Pathway-related internship Skills certificate received

Promising signs
Early analysis shows positive outcomes for course pass rates, a-g completion, GPA, 10th-grade California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) testing, postsecondary enrollment, dual enrollment in high school and college, and number of suspensions.

A dashboard highlighting status for critical indicators will launch in late 2013.

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Based on research and collaboration with those who are proving the value of Linked Learning, The James Irvine Foundation is investing to expand this approach in multiple ways.

Strengthening the community

Connecting the people who believe in the values and purpose of Linked Learning, including:
Business partners Community-based organizations Education support organizations Policymakers Researchers School administrators Students and parents Teachers

spreading the practice

Engaging the Public

informing the Policymakers

We are bringing high-quality Linked Learning programs to more of the places where young people live and learn: high school districts, colleges and community centers that serve those who have left school.

We are inviting people and organizations across the state to learn about the benefits of Linked Learning, and to support expansion of this approach as a way to enrich youth and communities throughout California.

We are sharing results with education decision makers to encourage further expansion of Linked Learning at the local, regional and state levels.

You can help make linked learning a reality for all California youth.

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VOICES
Hear the insights and experiences of Linked Learning participants and champions. Dalton, Student Students Parents Teachers District Leaders Business Partners Policymakers Other Noemi, Student Walter, Student Destiny, Student Raul, Student Arely, Student