Showing early indicators of increased graduation rates and college readiness among students of color and low-income students, Linked Learning has the potential to be even more impactful when integrated with Common Core and other new California standards. This report examines promising strategies being employed at nine California school districts. While some of these strategies are still being refined, they are already yielding encouraging results, especially with historically underserved student populations.
Linked Learning was designed to engage students through rigorous coursework that is closely tied to real-world work experiences. By aligning Linked Learning with Common Core and other new state standards, educators can ensure that students not only gain a richer academic experience, but also develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to thrive after graduation day.
The report identifies eight promising strategies that are being used in several school districts throughout California. Some are student-focused, such as the practice of developing “graduate profiles” aligned to Common Core standards that spell out what all students should know by the time they graduate. Others concentrate on the teacher, such as providing structured “release time” for teachers to collaborate with their peers to plan and develop interdisciplinary lessons for the Linked Learning pathway courses they teach.
Published: February 5, 2015
