Pathways to Success Transitions from Primary Grades through

Pathways to Success Transitions from Primary Grades through High School to Career and College TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction 1. Develop student engagement with connections to curricula throughout the grade spans. 2. Make instruction meaningful and contextual by integrating classroom content with students’ real life interests and experiences. This helps students answer the question, “Why do I need to go to school? ” 3. Open students’ eyes to future possibilities through a formal career exploration process based on their interests and aptitudes.

Viewing the Process for K-16 Transitions TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Students Ask: “Why Should I Go To School? ” TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Engaging schools and classrooms: Personalize learning with meaningful content, contextual methodology, and contextual significant relationships • Middle grades and high school focus • Building “agility” for a changing world of work • Start with career awareness; finish with work-place practice • Start with basic skills; graduate with transferable competence

Engaging Students; Building Readiness What makes content meaningful? meaningful TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction • Rigor: Challenging concepts that have connections to the student’s own life • Applications: Opportunities to use the concepts & skills • “Personalized Learning”: Familiarity between students & staff; and students & their peers; smaller learning communities

What Makes Learning Contextual? Contextual TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction • Gradual integration of career focus: Academic content taught in world of work context • Career academies: Smaller high schools integrate core academic & technical skills, focus on a locally active pathway • Applied learning methods in the classroom: – Project-Based activities – Problem-solving activities • Work-Based Learning beyond the classroom: – Work-place/virtual activities

Relationships in & out of Class TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Where do relationships have the most impact ? • Transition strategies & at-risk interventions: Use of at-risk data at 8 th into 9 th grade • Guided student exploration of career & college; encourage pursuit of interests, esp. grades 7 -10. • Mentor or role model to set & adjust goals, manage personal hurdles • Guided support in student learning & career plan development

AB 790: A Linked Learning Pilot? TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Plans proceeding for a CDE administered Linked Learning Pilot Program – still not definite • 20 LEAs with varied demographics – Include smaller, more remote districts • Incentives for participating LEAs – Technical assistance from CDE and partner resources: Ed Code flexibility? • Plans for regional networking, Web resources • HSIIO awaiting go-ahead from SSPI’s Office

California Linked Learning District Initiative TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Connect. Ed directs the California Linked Learning District Initiative, which aims to demonstrate that when school districts use Linked Learning as a primary district strategy for high school transformation, student outcomes improve. As part of the California Linked Learning District Initiative, school districts have developed master plans for expanding Linked Learning in their high schools and are now offering at least six to eight career pathways to their students. As of March 2010, nine districts have received implementation grants of at least $1 million over two years: • Antioch USD • Long Beach USD • Los Angeles USD, Local District 4 • Montebello USD • Oakland USD • Pasadena USD • Porterville USD • Sacramento City USD • West Contra Costa USD Two districts have received continued planning and development grants of $250, 000 each: • San Diego USD • Stockton USD Participating districts have high school enrollments of at least 5, 000 students, 30 percent or more of district students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and some existing capacity to develop larger systems of Linked Learning pathways.

Links to Video Resources • Career Academy Support Network: http: //casn. berkeley. edu/video. php • Connect. Ed Linked Learning models: http: //connectedcalifornia. org/video • National Academy Foundation video links TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction o About NAF: http: //naf. org/about-naf o The Year of Planning: Ø Overview: http: //naf. org/resources/year-planning-yop Ø Curriculum and Instruction: http: //naf. org/resources/year-planningcurriculum-and-instruction Ø Professional Development: http: //naf. org/resources/year-planningprofessional-development Ø Professional Learning Community: http: //naf. org/resources/yearplanning-professional-learning-community Ø Team Building: http: //naf. org/resources/year-planning-team-building

For Further Information: TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction George M. Olive III, Education Programs Consultant California Department of Education High School Innovations and Initiatives Office Career and College Transition Division Instruction and Learning Support Branch 1430 N Street, Suite 4503 Sacramento, CA 95814 -5901 Phone: 916 -327 -5711 Fax: 916 -319 -0163 golive@cde. ca. gov Darrell Parsons, Education Programs Consultant High School Innovations and Initiatives Office California Department of Education 1430 N Street, Suite 4503 Sacramento, CA 95814 -5901 Phone: 916 -319 -0481 Fax: 916 -319 -0168 dparsons@cde. ca. gov