Goal
To develop and implement systems of Linked Learning at California public school districts and to provide evidence of their impact on student outcomes.
Initiative Description
The California Linked Learning District Initiative was established to help California school districts develop and implement plans for expanding the Linked Learning approach (formerly known as multiple pathways) in their high schools. Over the grant period, each district will develop between six and eight high-quality Linked Learning pathways, greatly increasing educational options for students. In the first phase of the initiative, 10 districts were selected for initial planning grants, and of those, nine were awarded implementation grants. More information about this district initiative, including a list of implementation districts, is available.
The initiative is managed by ConnectEd, an independent nonprofit organization established in 2006 by the Irvine Foundation to advance Linked Learning as a promising approach to reforming California’s high school systems. ConnectEd serves as a hub for innovative practice, policy and research to expand the number of educational pathways that prepare students for both college and career. The district initiative is also supported by a number of other key organizations.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the California Linked Learning District Initiative is being conducted by researchers at SRI International’s Center for Education Policy. This evaluation will provide evidence about the impact that the Linked Learning approach has on student outcomes, which will be shared with education policymakers and the broader education community. The design and implementation of this evaluation is being closely coordinated with ConnectEd in order to ensure that findings help inform the implementation of the district initiative. The evaluation was also informed by the earlier evaluation of the ConnectEd Network of Schools.
Objectives:
The primary objectives for this evaluation are:
- Assess the impact of Linked Learning on student outcomes
- Assess the key features and outcomes of a district-wide approach to Linked Learning
- Assess the level and quality of implementation in each district
- Provide the Foundation, ConnectEd and participating districts with data and information that supports ongoing program improvement
Due to the variety of approaches at districts and student self-selection into the programs studied, this evaluation is expected to provide useful but not definitive evidence of the impact the Linked Learning approach.
Time frame:
2009 – 2015
Participating Grantees:
The evaluation will focus on the nine districts that received implementation grants:
- Antioch Unified School District
- Local District 4 of the Los Angeles Unified School District
- Long Beach Unified School District
- Montebello Unified School District
- Oakland Unified School District
- Pasadena Unified School District
- Porterville Unified School District
- Sacramento City Unified School District
- West Contra Costa Unified School District
Districts participating in the California Linked Learning District Initiative have high school enrollments of at least 5,000 students; 30 percent or more of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch; and some existing capacity to develop larger systems of Linked Learning.
Methods:
This evaluation takes a rigorous approach to build evidence for policymakers and stakeholders about the effectiveness of the Linked Learning approach. Quantitative data analyzed in this evaluation will focus on student achievement outcomes and utilize statistical methods to address selection bias issues. Qualitative data collection would provide information about the quality of implementation, highlighting the key features of implementing Linked Learning across an entire district and which of those lead to better student outcomes. This evaluation will also examine indicators of student preparedness for careers by tracking technical curriculum and through surveys. SRI will provide ongoing reports to the Foundation and ConnectEd which will support program improvement and keep us fully informed about the status of the initiative.
Findings:
Read a summary of the evaluation on the 2010-2011 school year. We will continue publishing evaluations through the conclusion of this initiative.
Related Materials:
Evaluator:
Nancy Adelman, Ed.D.
Associate Director
Center for Education Policy
SRI International
http://policyweb.sri.com/cep/
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