Linked Learning Resources

Linked Learning Materials

• Publications
  ConnectEd produces publications including policy papers, research reports, manuals, and various informative summaries to contribute to discussions on high school improvement.
• Beyond Tracking
  In this book edited by Jeannie Oakes, the Linked Learning (formerly multiple pathways) approach is defined and examined as an innovative way to improve high schools.
• Career Academies: A Proven Strategy to Prepare High School Students for College and Careers (PDF, 266 KB)
  This paper outlines quantitative evidence showing the success of students who participated in Career Academies, one model for implementing Linked Learning pathways. It includes information on academic performance, high school completion, enrollment in postsecondary education, and employment after high school.
• Profile of California Partnership Academies (PDF, 1.50 MB)
  In this report from ConnectEd and the Career Academy Support Network, the evidence suggests that the partnership academies are succeeding on several important fronts.
• Career Academies Long Term Impact (PDF, 1.32 MB)
  A report that describes how Career Academy students fare in post-secondary education and labor market prospects.
• In the News
  A selection of news articles on or related to Linked learning and the schools and districts implementin gthe approach.

Best Practices

• Expanding Access, Creating Options: How Linked Learning Pathways Can Mitigate Barriers to College and Career Access in Schools and Districts (PDF, 2.62 MB)
  Over the past five years, the Education Trust–West (ETW) has examined tens of thousands of high school transcripts in an effort to answer this question. Our research has led us to two primary findings. First, levels of college readiness are far too low across the board, and especially low for low-income students and students of color. Second, students who are unprepared for college are also unlikely to be meaningfully prepared for careers.
• Career Academy National Standards of Practice (PDF, 26 KB)
  The ten key elements to successfully implement career academies.
• Preparing Youth for Life: The Gold Standards for High School Internships (PDF, 181 KB)
  This publication, produced by a National Academy Foundation-led task force, outlines 10 Gold Standards for high school internships, such as aligning academic learning with internship experiences and creating systems of support to sustain internships.

Planning & Evaluation

• 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.
• Linked Learning Feasibility Study
  Website with information on the feasibility study for establishing and expanding Linked Learning in California that WestEd is conducting for AB2648.
• Planning Guide for Career Academies (PDF, 518 KB)
  A comprehensive guide for successfully starting a career academy.
• Academy Planning Guide
  National Academy Foundation’s detailed guide for developing an academy.
• Self Assessment Guide (PDF, 208 KB)
  A checklist and scoring summary to indicate how well a Small Learning Community or Career Academy performs within nationally defined criteria for implementation.
• Rubric for Linked Learning Pathway Quality Review and Continuous Improvement (PDF, 280 KB)
  Developed by ConnectEd, this rubric describes varying levels of development for pathways. Schools and districts can use this tool as a guide for developing improvement plans.
• Criteria for Linked Learning Pathway Quality Review and Continuous Improvement (PDF, 175 KB)
  These criteria are intended to serve multiple purposes. For pathway team members involved in the pathway quality review process, they serve as a guide to build, improve, and sustain high quality pathways. For others – educational leaders, industry and postsecondary partners, policymakers, and community members – they serve to deepen understanding by describing the elements of a high quality pathway.
• Guide to Building a Broad-Based Coalition: Supporting the Development and Sustainability of a System of Pathways (PDF, 238 KB)
  This Guide is intended to help communities conceptualize and form a Broad-Based Coalition that will mature over time and ultimate assume primary responsibility for sustaining a system of high quality pathways.
• Steps To Building and Maintaining a Large Business Partner Base For a Career Academy
  A resource for developing and maintaining business partners.
• Alliance for Education Academy (PDF, 413 KB)
  A resource for developing a small learning community, from the planning stage to evaluation and assessment.
• Establishing Partnerships Academy Steering Committee
  A resource for developing an academy steering committee.
• Aiming High
  A guide developed by the California Department of Education as a resource for high school reform.
• Career Tech Education (PDF, 9.81 MB)
  California’s framework for career technical education.

Networks

• Linked Learning Alliance
  A broad-based coalition composed of members from education, industry, and community organizations supporting Linked Learning.
• Academy Directory (CASN)
  The Career Academy Support Network’s database of career academies in the US.
• California Partnership Academy
  An initiative of the California Department of Education that provides funds for high schools implementing career academies.
• Specialized Secondary Programs
  Learning communities funded by the California Department of Education that provide students with advanced learning opportunities through themed curriculum while integrating the use of technology.
• NAF Network of Academies
  A national network of over 500 high school career academies supported by the National Academy Foundation.