Linked Learning Job-Alike Presentation Adam Stephens August 2014 Assistant Superintendent of Linked Learning HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

FIST-to-FIVE FIST Linked Learning? Is that like LinkedIn? Lincoln Logs? What in the world is Linked Learning????? to FIVE I am leading Linked Learning work at my campus and could teach this session. Right now. Really. Ask participants to self-assess their familiarity with Linked Learning – a FIST (I have no clue) to FIVE (I know all about it). If anyone shows a “four” or “five,” ask them if they have been to training before, if they are at a Linked Learning campus – draw out some information. Explain that this session is designed to provide an introduction to Linked Learning, but also provide some detail about HISD’s approach that even those who have been through the summer institute training may not have heard before.

Session Outcomes By the end of this session, you will be able to: Explain the Linked Learning approach: why Linked Learning? why now? how it fits into the bigger picture of high school transformation its key components Identify your own role within Linked Learning

By 2020: 90% of new jobs in growing industries with high wages will require some postsecondary education. The high-growth/high-wage jobs of today and tomorrow … The jobs that will put food on the table … will almost ALL require some post-secondary education. (Carnevale, Smith, & Strohl, 2010).

This job may not have required post-high school education …

… but this one will. Fewer sign installers … more digital technicians

twice the national average. In Harris County, 1 in 4 adults 25 and over did not finish high school – twice the national average. ttp://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48201.html In Harris County, 2x the national average have less than a high school diploma. 1 of every 4. – 28.4% - BA or higher. 46.0% HS grad or some college, 25.6% less than HS diploma.

1 in 10 SOURCE: Alliance for Excellent Education, “The High Cost of High School Dropouts: What the Nation Pays for Inadequate High Schools,” (Washington, DC: 2008).

Yes … and … College and career are no longer an either-or proposition. Photo accessed via flickr.com - License - Some rights reserved by IntelFreePress Emory University freshman Alexa Dantzler maintains the temperature of a solution that, after reacting it with several chemicals, will allow her to determine how much calcium carbonate exists in an antacid tablet. College and career are no longer an either-or proposition.

graduate  enroll  persist  complete A NEW GOAL: graduate  enroll  persist  complete

More of the same won’t engage today’s students As we think about how to address this crisis in our education system, we know that more of the same won’t get us there.

Tower of Babel Moving from English to Algebra to World Geography to French to Principles of Engineering to Biology can feel like traveling six different countries – each with its own language, rules, and culture. We have to change the way we deliver instruction by making it more applied, relevant, and rooted in real-world experience.

Linked Learning provides a new approach

What is Linked Learning? Linked Learning is an approach to education that transforms the traditional high school experience by bringing together strong academics, a demanding technical education, and real-world experience to help students gain an advantage in high school, postsecondary education, and careers. Students can choose among industry-themed pathways in fields such as engineering, arts and media, and biomedicine and health.

real-world technical skills personalized supports LINKED LEARNING rigorous academics real-world technical skills work-based learning personalized supports LINKED LEARNING IS AN APPROACH or a “How” to help all students achieve the “what” of college and career readiness. THINK OF IT AS AN UMBRELLA FOR A VARIETY OF MODELS. IN ORDER TO BE UNDER THE UMBRELLA, THOSE MODELS MUST HAVE THE FOUR PILLARS IN PLACE. Four Pillars of Linked Learning Rigorous academics include college preparatory English language arts, mathematics, science, history, and foreign language courses. Real-world technical skills help students gain the knowledge and skills that can give them a head start on a successful career. Work-based learning. A series of work-based learning opportunities that begin with mentoring and job shadowing and evolve into intensive internships, school-based enterprises, or virtual apprenticeships. Integrated with classroom learning – outcomes based. Personalized supports. Student supports including college and career guidance, social emotional support, academic counseling, and supplemental instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics that help students master the academic and technical learning.

What is Linked Learning? xxx

Four Pathway Components A comprehensive four-year program of study: rigorous academics: Students enroll in college- prep core courses emphasizing industry-themed real-world applications. real-world technical skills: Students proceed through a CTE program of study (three or more courses meeting industry standards and offering certification) work-based learning: all pathway students engage in meaningful, rigorous, relevant WBL. personalized supports: Students receive the academic, social-emotional, college/career guidance, and transportation support they need.

Common features STUDENT COHORT Open and equity-driven enrollment A diverse, voluntary student cohort Small school feel 250 – 500 students (9 – 12) Industry theme unifies instruction Personalized supports Work-based learning Personalized, relevant learning Student voice and choice STUDENT COHORT Common features from the student perspective - first, the Linked Learning approach is driven by a vision of equitable access to college and career. Students who are interested and committed can join the pathway. Period. Students stay together in a cohort from 9th to 12th grade, and are scheduled into classes as a cohort. There is still room for personal choice in electives, but students travel through at least some classes as a cohort. Linked Learning has evolved from the small schools work of the 1990s and builds upon what we have learned about the benefits to students in terms of personalization, as well as the challenges, in terms of scheduling, teacher preparation, etc.

Common features A pathway teacher team: core and CTE/elective Common set of pathway outcomes Intentional course of study A pathway lead teacher and dedicated administrator Common planning time Collegial data-driven planning Trans-disciplinary projects PATHWAY TEAM Pathway team Pathway Outcomes help guide the pathway work and keeps everyone focused and everything aligned

The research is in … Linked Learning students: 4/15/2017 The research is in … Linked Learning students: attend high school more consistently (2-4% improvement) and accrue credits at faster rates are more likely to graduate; less likely to drop out (57% vs. 36% statewide in CA) enroll and persist in postsecondary programs at higher rates (10+%) earn as much as $2,500 more annually in the eight years after high school graduation Say, “We know from multiple studies that students from all backgrounds are doing better on indicators of engagement, persistence, progress, achievement, and attainment. Linked Learning is only in its fourth year of implementation – longitudinal studies are underway.”

Race to the Top (RTTT-D): Funding The $30 million federal grant funds our district-wide Linked Learning implementation By 2018, 27 high schools will offer at least 1 pathway Feeder elementary and middle schools will provide career awareness and exploration http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2013/12/17/hisd-wins-30-million-in-federal-race-to-the-top-funds-to-link-students-to-careers-college-from-earliest-age/

RTTT-D Success Measures SHORT-TERM (2 years): 95% LL teachers trained in differentiated instruction 6%  LL students aspiring to pursue college education BY THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD: 75% of LL teachers will use differentiated instruction at least 40% of the time 25%  LL students on track to CCR (SAT CRS) 60% of all LL cohort students will go on to attain a postsecondary degree within 6 years. The number of participating students on track to college and career readiness will increase by 10% the first 2 years of the project, 18% the next 2 years of the project, and 25% post grant as measured by scoring at the College Readiness Standard on the SAT. (IS THIS CUMULATIVE??)

ConnectEd: Partner ConnectEd: has supported the design and implementation of the Linked Learning approach in California, Florida, and Texas. provides technical assistance and coaching support ConnectEd is helping us to accelerate achieving our goals because they have structures and supports that we can readily adapt in HISD. They provide technical assistance in implementing this approach system wide, as well as training and coaching to develop the district’s capacity to lead and support the work on campuses.

Cohort 1 (2014-15) Chavez Eastwood Furr Lee Milby Reagan Sterling Health Science, Fire/EMT Industrial Engineering, Cyber Defense Renewable Energy, Environmental Communication, Energy Efficiency Building and Construction Design MADE IT – Milby Academy for Design Engineering & Industrial Technology Health Science Aviation Eng. & Design, Aviation Operations & Marketing, Global Trade & Logistics Digital Media & Design (DMD) Cohort 1 (2014-15) Chavez Eastwood Furr Lee Milby Reagan For each of these high schools, their feeder elementary and middle schools are involved in career awareness and exploration activities, family events, and professional development opportunities. Sterling Westside

Future Cohorts Coho rt 2 Coho rt 3 (2016- 17) Coho rt 4 (2017- 18) (2015- 16) Austin Davis Houston Lamar Scarborough Washington Westbury Wheatley Worthing Yates Coho rt 3 (2016- 17) Bellaire Jones Kashmere Long Acad Madison North Forest Coho rt 4 (2017- 18) LECJ Sharpstown Waltrip So in four years, 27 high schools and their elementary and middle feeder schools will have implemented the Linked Learning approach

Benefits for students Engaging, hands-on learning with real-world connections Personalized college and career exploration Intensive college and career prep Summer Bridge programs AP and dual-credit opportunities College visits Industry visits and internships Family supports (e.g., Super Saturdays)

Benefits for campuses: Continuation/expansion of effective practices and programs (e.g., AVID, CTE) Professional development and coaching Additional technology, funds, and supplies

Benefits for pathways Full-time pathway counselor Intensive professional development and coaching Collegial planning time Cohorted students

For more information http://www.houstonisd.org/linkedlearning Adam Stephens Assistant Superintendent, Linked Learning ASTEPHEN@houstonisd.org Monica Sedelmeier Manager, College and Career Guidance MSEDELME@houstonisd.org Gwen Tompkins Director, Internal Pathways GTOMPKIN@houstonisd.org Lisa Sullivan Grant Manager, RTTT-D LSULLIV1@houstonisd.org