California
Our 2012 Policy Priorities
- America’s Edge California is supporting efforts to connect high school students to real world experiences and help them graduate with the 21st century skills California businesses need through Linked Learning, a promising approach to improve high schools while also connecting to actual needs in the state’s economy.
In 2012, America’s Edge will continue its work to:
- Raise public awareness and policy-maker support for Linked Learning in California high schools
- Urge California legislators to protect funding for high schools that are implementing Linked Learning and similar approaches, such as California Partnership Academies.
Linked Learning will strengthen California businesses and the economy because, as adults, participants:
- Earn more money;
- Work more hours;
- Have a better work ethic; and
- Have a higher skill level.
For more information about the Linked Learning approach, please click here.
Did you know that in California:
- 9.4 million children (to the age of 18) live in the state;
- Almost 1 out of every 3 children live in a household with only one parent;
- Approximately 93,700 children participate in the federally-funded Head Start program;
- 75 percent of eighth graders are below grade level in math;
- 75 percent of fourth graders are reading below grade level; and
- 27 percent of high school students do not graduate on time with a high school diploma.
Legislative Successes
On October 28, 2011, Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway (R-Tulare), local business leaders and education administrators toured Granite Hills High School to see first-hand how their innovative Linked Learning initiative equips students with the skill set that California businesses seek in today’s economy.
Read America’s Edge Support Letters to Governor Brown
- AB 790 (Furutani): Establishes a multiple pathways/Linked Learning high school pilot program, through a competitive grant administered by the Department of Education, in order to grant greater flexibility to school districts that choose to implement multiple pathways/Linked Learning, with the goal of eventually implementing district-wide pathways in all participating districts. This bill was signed into law.
- SB 547 (Steinberg): Replaces the current Academic Performance Index (API), which judges a school’s performance solely using test scores, with a new, more comprehensive school and district performance measure called the Education Quality Index (EQI). The EQI would be comprised of several indices, including a Career Readiness Index. This bill was vetoed.
- SB 611 (Steinberg): Establishes the University of California Curriculum Integration Institute (UCCII), which will bring together high school teachers, university researchers and other experts to develop new, model courses that provide students rigorous academic content that is linked to real-world applications. This bill was signed into law.
- SB 612 (Steinberg): Expands a proven teacher professional development program – the California Subject Matter Projects – to meet the needs of the new economy by including professional development that prepares teachers to deliver hands-on, integrated curriculum, such as that developed by the UCCII, which is connected to high-need sectors of the economy. This bill was signed into law.
On October 8, 2011, Senator Darrell Steinberg issued a statement:
STEINBERG STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR’S ACTION ON EDUCATION REFORM BILLS
(SACRAMENTO)—Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg issued the following statement after the Governor vetoed SB 547 and signed SB 611 and 612:
“The Governor’s veto of SB 547 leaves in place a narrow accountability system that is failing our students, teachers and schools because it is based 100% on standardized test scores. Calls to quickly yet thoughtfully address the inadequacies of the Academic Performance Index have come from not just editorialist and academics but from those on the ground delivering education every day. I am encouraged by the fact the Governor believes the system is robbing our children of the opportunity to develop the “love of learning” we all want to restore. I look forward to hearing his proposal on how to reform the status quo. We must act deliberately to repair a flawed system that has negative consequences for children and schools. I am confident we can produce an accountability framework that will achieve our shared objective of quality education and provide an early victory for 2012.”
“The Governor’s signatures on SB 611 and 612 allow us to get on with the important work of making high school more relevant to the needs of the California economy. The UC Curriculum Integration Institute, established in statute by SB 611, will work to develop cutting-edge, model courses to provide students rigorous academic content linked to real world applications. The California Subject Matter Projects, reauthorized by SB 612, now has a new charge to provide professional development to the teachers who will make these relevant courses real for high school students. I believe this work will have an impact on student engagement in school, and thus reduce our high dropout rate.”
America’s Edge Releases New “Skills Gap” Report in Sacramento
On May 25, 2011, California business leaders and education administrators released a report urging support for an education approach that can help address significant skills gaps in many career fields in California, ranging from nursing to information technology.
The report calls on state lawmakers to support Linked Learning, a high school-based education approach that helps equip students with the specific skills California businesses seek and which will fuel the state’s economic recovery and long-term growth.
Insert 1: Chart showing High Schools Using Linked Learning by County
Insert 2: Funding Linked Learning
Insert 3: Skills Shortages in Sacramento
Linked Learning in the News
- October 3, 2011: Mercury News, ‘Linked Learning’ Will Help Ensure Employers Can Find Skilled Workers
- June 14, 2011: Contra Costa Times, “Complete education includes real world”
- June 10, 2011: El Cerrito Patch, “Career-relevant education prepares students for real world, helps fill skills shortage”
- June 9, 2011: Oakland Tribune, “State face skills gap crisis for job creation”
- June 2, 2011: The Recorder, “Porterville Pathways remains in spotlight”
- On May 26, 2011, TMCnet published an article about the new America’s Edge report, “Can California Compete?” highlighting the ability of Linked Learning programs to combat the ever-widening “skills gap” throughout the state of California. Click here to read the full article.
- On Thursday, May 26, The Sacramento Bee published an article about the new America’s Edge report, “Can California Compete?” highlighting the ability of Linked Learning programs to combat the ever-widening “skills gap” in Sacramento and state-wide. Click here to read the full article.
- On January 17, 2011 America’s Edge member Kish Rajan published an op ed in the Contra Costa Times explaining the benefit of Linked Learning in California. Click here to read the full op-ed.
- On November 3rd, America’s Edge member Charley Daly, CEO of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, says Linked Learning is critical to improving our workforce and our economy. Click here to read the article.
- On August 2nd, the San Francisco Chronicle published a letter-to-the-editor by Joseph H. Haraburda, CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, explaining that Linked Learning benefits Business by boosting grad rates and providing a more prepared entry-level workforce. Click here to read the article.
“Traditional education models lack relevance. High-quality Linked Learning pathways can help reform our education system and create a pipeline of workers with 21st century skills.”
–Teresa Goodwin, President, PeopleSpaces Design Group, Oakland, CA
A short new video, with excerpts from our May 25, 2011 press conference, highlights why California’s economic future depends on creating a skilled workforce.
Our thanks to ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career, Porterville Unified School District and the Sacramento Press Club for allowing us to use some of their footage.
Click here to watch the video.
*For more information, please contact America’s Edge California State Director Jennifer Ortega at (415) 762-8275, or jortega@AmericasEdge.org.