Resource Library

This final evaluation report presents findings from the Oakland Health Pathways Project (OHPP), a joint initiative of Oakland Unified School District, Alameda Health System, and Alameda County Health Care Services Agency. The initiative is designed to improve educational and long-term employment outcomes for youth of color in Oakland (Alameda County), California, while expanding and diversifying the local health care workforce. It applies Linked Learning, an approach to college and career preparation that combines classroom learning with real-world work experiences.

Research, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Lessons Learned, Outcomes, Partnerships, Postsecondary, Rigorous Academics, Student Supports, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Oakland Health Pathways

This brief seeks to uncover the extent to which health pathway students experience integration of real-world applications and content into the curriculum, have opportunities to participate in quality work-based learning experiences, and perceive positive implications for students’ college and career readiness.

Research, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Lessons Learned, Outcomes, Rigorous Academics, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Oakland Health Pathways

SRI evaluators compared health pathway students’ outcomes with those of students who had similar demographic characteristics and prior achievement but were in two other programs of study: traditional high school programs, and other career-themed pathways. We found that health pathway students significantly outperformed traditional high school students on key indicators of success in high school and the transition to postsecondary education. We found no differences in the outcomes of students who participated in health pathways compared to those in other career-themed pathways.

Research, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Lessons Learned, Outcomes, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Oakland Health Pathways

This brief contains SRI findings drawn from the experience of Oakland Health Pathways Project partners. Presented as lessons learned, this content can inform people and organizations leading education-industry partnerships. It is especially relevant to those involved in high school health care partnerships that incorporate work-based learning.

Research, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Lessons Learned, Outcomes, Partnerships, Rigorous Academics, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Oakland Health Pathways

This brief focuses on the implementation of health pathways in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) continuation high schools. These non-traditional high school settings represent a unique set of challenges as well as opportunities to re-engage youth who are off-track to graduate and prepare them for college and career.

Research, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Lessons Learned, Outcomes, Rigorous Academics, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Oakland Health Pathways

Graduation rates are climbing. Students are earning better grades. Absenteeismand discipline problems are down. Teachers see higher engagement in learning—and young people are excited about their prospects for the future.

Communications, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Equity, Outcomes, Partnerships, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Oakland Health Pathways

This pre-apprenticeship framework outlines strategies and promising practices for developing high-quality programs that serve opportunity youth participants.

Curriculum & Instruction, Career-Technical Education, College & Career Readiness, Partnerships, Student Supports, Workforce Development, Work-Based Learning, Getting Started, Steps to Silver, Going for Gold, Continuous Improvement

A guide for teachers and staff on how to effectively prepare students for high quality work-based learning experiences and tips on how to provide relevant student outcomes experience from Fresno Unified School District.

Curriculum & Instruction, College & Career Readiness, Work-Based Learning

Working to Learn and Learning to Work offers a state-by-state analysis of work-based learning policies. While states are in very different places in terms of implementing work-based learning programs the analysis surfaced several key themes that point to several key levers for strengthening work-based learning. Through strong, high-quality work-based learning programs, states can help ensure that their education programs prepare young people for success beyond high school, while simultaneously working to strengthen the talent pipelines of local businesses and address the economic and workforce needs of entire communities.

Research, Work-Based Learning

A recap of Keep Us Linked, a student-led legislative briefing on January 28, 2021.

Stories, College & Career Readiness, COVID19, Equity, Lessons Learned, Outcomes, Policy, Rigorous Academics, Student Supports, Work-Based Learning