Policy Resources

• ConnectEd Comments on the AB2648 feasibility study for implementing Linked Learning (PDF, 428 KB)
  In this 18-page document, ConnectEd offers detailed comments and suggestions to strengthen the AB2648 report draft, which explores the feasibility of expanding Linked Learning in California.
• The Economic Benefits from Halving the Dropout Rate
  The Alliance for Excellent Education provides one-page summaries of the economic benefits to certain cities and nationally when the high school drop-out rate is reduced by half. Five California cities (Fresno, Los Angeles-Long Beach, Sacramento, San Francisco-Oakland, San Jose) and a national summary are included.
• Universal Access to a Quality Education: Research and Recommendations for the Elimination of Curricular Stratification (PDF, 332 KB)
  This December 2009 policy brief on curricular tracking provides information from case studies of a school, district, and nation that abolished tracking, provided a common challenging curriculum, and improved achievement. The brief provides recommendations for policy makers to support implementation of such changes.
• Work-Based Learning in California: Opportunities and Models for Expansion (PDF, 427 KB)
  This WestEd report examines work-based learning in California, detailing implementation strategies and opportunities for expanding the approach to engage more students.
• The Status of the Teaching Profession - 2009 (PDF, 2.03 MB)
  In chapters 4 and 5 of this report, the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning outlines the skills and knowledge teachers need to succeed in redesigned schools and the preparation and ongoing professional development needed to support their work.
• Evidence from California Partnership Academies: One Model of Pathways (PDF, 223 KB)
  This 4–page document describes three key pieces of evidence supporting adoption of the Linked Learning approach.
• California's Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs: Meeting the Demands of a 21st Century Economy (PDF, 1.2 MB)
  This Workforce Alliance report states that for California to meet its full economic potential it must prepare a sufficient number of middle-skill workers who hold more than a high school diploma and less than a bachelor's degree. Workforce development investments have not kept pace with demand for these workers.
• Multiple Pathways Feasibility Study
  Website with information on the feasibility study for establishing and expanding Linked Learning (formerly multiple pathways) in California that WestEd is conducting for AB2648.
• Governance Matters
  Designed for school board members, this report is a synthesis of the findings of the High School Reform Task Force of the California School Board Association.
• Career Technical Education: Creating Options for High School Success (PDF, 717 KB)
  In this report, the Little Hoover Commission explains the results of their study of career technical education (CTE) and their recommendations on how to keep CTE effective.
• ACSA Career Technical Education Position Paper (PDF, 75 KB)
  This position paper by the Association of California School Administrators provides policy recommendations for developing adequately funded and integrated CTE programs that can be used to address the achievement gap and dropout crisis.
• Multiple Pathways and State Policy: Toward Education and Training Beyond High School (PDF, 46 KB)
  This paper by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education looks at the social and economic challenges in increasing higher education access.
• Supporting High Quality Career and Technical Education through Federal and State Policy (PDF, 227 KB)
  The American Youth Policy Forum outlines ways in which state and federal policy can support a greater role for CTE in education reform.
• Assembly Bill 2648 (PDF, 78 KB)
  This bill requires California's Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a report that assesses the feasibility of expanding Linked Learning programs in California.
• Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE)
  A non-partisan organization that works to develop a long-term strategy for policy reform and improvement in California’s education system.
• Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning
  The Center of the Future of Teaching and Learning is a public, not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening teacher development policy and practice.
• UCLA - IDEA
  • The Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access at UCLA seeks to make high quality public schooling and successful college participation routine occurrence in low income neighborhoods of color.
• Expanding Pathways: Transforming High School Education in California (PDF, 1.1 MB)
  This policy paper defines Linked Learning, offers evidence for its effectiveness, and outlines policy and implementation recommendations for expanding high quality programs in California.  ConnectEd hopes the paper will spark ideas and discussion about how to move from its general policy recommendations to more specific programmatic and legislative ideas for expanding pathways.