January 4, 2012: State Superintendent Tom Torlakson announced this morning the 20 organizations chosen to participate in the state's "Linked Learning" programs. Based on legislation written by Assemblymember Warren Furutani (AB 790) and passed in 2011, Linked Learning will "tie together real-world professions with demanding academics through challenging coursework, technical skills and knowledge, work-based learning, and pertinent support mechanisms for kids."
Last September, school districts, county offices of education, and direct-funded charter schools serving kids in grades 9-12 were invited to apply to be part of the pilot program, which will run from 2013-2017. The invitation to apply said that "participants can form regional partnerships with each other and work closely with nonprofit organizations and businesses when planning and implementing their Linked Learning programs. From the state, they can look for a full array of technical assistance and professional development opportunities throughout program implementation."
Chosen for the pilot program are:
Antelope Valley Union High School District (Lancaster): goal is to "help the district develop a homegrown employment base."
Cabrillo College Santa Cruz County College Commitment (SC4) Consortium: four school districts and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education: concentrating on the marine environment and water issues...
Capital Region Academies for the Next Economy Consortium (six-county regional partnership that includes Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yuba, Yolo, and Nevada; 21 school districts with 197K students).
Centinela Valley Union High School District (Los Angeles County): a "small schools" project to foster greater teacher creativity.
Diablo Delta Corridor Project (D2CP) Consortium (3 USDs within Contra Costa County): focusing on manufacturing industry, energy & utilities sector.
East Side Union High School District (San Jose/Santa Clara County): focusing on reducing dropout rate, raising achievemnet, increasing college attendance; Linked Learning will be the "primary education delivery stategy for its schools."
Elk Grove USD (Sacramento): will base its program on its 16 California Partnership Academies.
Linked Learning San Bernardino Consortium (five USDs within S'Berdo County): provide work-based learning experiences for students...
Linked Learning San Diego Consortium (five SD County districts and Long Beach USD): building transition strategies with feeder middle schools, as well as other goals.
Los Angeles County Office of Education: Linked Learning in its community day schools...will focus on arts, media, and entertainment industry sector and at-risk students.
Los Angeles USD: expanding Linked Learning across full spectrum of industry sectors.
Norwalk-La Mirada USD (Los Angeles County) will implement Common Core State Standards in conjunction with Linked Learning.
Oxnard USD (Ventura County): Linked Learning will be "districtwide comprehensive high school reform strategy..."
Palm Springs USD (Riverside County) will build on its "many California Partnership Academies..."
Sacramento City USD, a goal of "having at least 60% of its high school students enrolled in Linked Learning pathways by 2016-17 school year."
San Lorenzo USD (Santa Cruz County) implementing Linked Learning in conjunction with Common Core standards.
Santa Rosa City Schools (Sonoma County): green business and sustainability pathway combining business and finance sector with building trades and construction sector.
Tulare-Kings County Linked Learning Consortium (seven school districts in two counties, mentored by Porterville USD).
Vallejo City USD (Solano County)"will use the pilot to further its efforts to implement a "wall -to-wall" Linked Learning system in whicfh all students will enroll in an industry pathway of their choosing.
West Contra Costa USD (Contra Costa County/Richmond): will build on its 19 career academies that already serve 35% of the districts high school students...
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