Resource Library

21st century skills, also known as soft skills, are necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. Yet, many employers cite that students graduate unequipped with these basic skill sets, making it challenging for both students and employers to transition from a school to work setting. Linked Learning is a solution to this challenge. Linked Learning students gain technical knowledge and skills, 21st century skills, productive dispositions and behaviors, and professionalism needed to meet modern workforce demands.

Research, Workforce Development, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement

Equitable access to high quality career-themed high school pathways requires that school staff and all pathway partners work in concert to address each student’s developmental needs, skills, strengths, interests, and aspirations. To this end, effective student supports are designed to reach beyond the academic domain, to meet all students where they are, scaffold their engagement with a standards-based curriculum, and address their learning and personal youth development needs. This guidebook continues an exploration of integrated student supports for universal college and career readiness that we began in Equitable Access by Design (2016). That report introduced a conceptual framework for implementing a system of comprehensive and integrated student supports that provides equitable access to a coherent, student-centered program of learning via Linked Learning pathways in high schools. This work is intended as a companion to Marisa Saunders’ Linked Learning: A Guide for Making High School Work, published by the University of California, Los Angeles in 2013. The chapters in this guidebook offer seven illustrative profiles of educators and their partners in California high schools who are working collaboratively to develop comprehensive student supports that “link together” a rigorous academic curriculum, technical education, and workplace opportunities into a coherent learning experience for every youth in their school.

Research, Equity, Lessons Learned, Student Supports, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement

Share the ways Linked Learning is transforming the lives of students with this infographic snapshot.

Communications, Equity, Outcomes, Getting Started, Steps to Silver

In the span of a few weeks, sweeping actions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 across our nation have created unprecedented new educational realities for families, schools, and partners. Some of these realities are familiar but intensified; educators may find themselves taking on new roles, even serving students and families on the front lines of this crisis. Other realities may feel very different, full of opportunity to shift our systems in ways that previously seemed impossible. Listen to this webinar from ConnectED to learn more about ensuring equity during this unusual time.

Webinars, College & Career Readiness, COVID19, Getting Started, Steps to Silver

ConnectED’s video collection helps students virtually explore interesting jobs and gain insights into the skills and competencies needed to thrive in those jobs. With over 10 million views and counting, the collection is one of their most widely accessed resources.

Webinars, Work-Based Learning, Getting Started, Steps to Silver

A collection of work-based learning resources shared during Linked Learning's 3rd Virtual Conversation on April 29th.

Curriculum & Instruction, Webinars, COVID19, Work-Based Learning, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement

Recording of the May 13th Master Scheduling webinar

Webinars, Student Supports, Getting Started, Steps to Silver

Resources from June 29, 2020 webinar "Bringing Linked Learning to Life Through Integrated Project Design."

Curriculum & Instruction, College & Career Readiness, General, Student Supports, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement

Check in on your pathway development progress using our Linked Learning Pathway Self-Study Tool. Your answers will help you visualize what you've accomplished, note areas you're making strides, and create an action plan to continue strengthening your program. This tool is intended to help you understand how you’re doing in relation to several important Linked Learning concepts. It is not a formal evaluation of your program’s certification progress.

Curriculum & Instruction, Pathway Improvement, Career-Technical Education, Certification, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Outcomes, Rigorous Academics, Student Supports, Work-Based Learning, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement

The Pathway Improvement Toolkit is designed for pathway teams at all levels looking to improve the opportunities to engage youth, transform systems, and advance equity. The toolkit includes the following resources:

1. This User Guide, which offers detailed support for using the toolkit.
2. A Self-Study Tool, with step-by-step guidance and questions to help you capture a meaningful picture of your pathway’s successes and areas for improvement.
3. An Action Planning Template, designed to support your team’s analysis of the Self-Study Tool results and to plan for improvement.

Pathway Improvement, Career-Technical Education, Certification, Equity, Outcomes, Rigorous Academics, Student Supports, Work-Based Learning, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement