11 high schools part of statewide ‘Linked Learning’ initiative

Eleven San Diego Unified high schools, plus the new charter school at the new San Diego Central Library, are part of a statewide pilot of “Linked Learning” according to Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Participating schools are: SciTech, Multimedia, Visual and Performing Arts and School of Business at San Diego High; Hoover High; Clairemont High; Crawford High; Kearny High schools of Digital Media and Design, Construction Tech Academy and Science, Connections and Technology; Patrick Henry High; Mira Mesa High; and the new downtown San Diego library charter school.

Health sciences program at Crawford High.

"Linked Learning prepares students for college and career – not just one or the other – and transforms high school education by igniting students' passions." said Shawn Loescher,  Director of San Diego Unified's College Career and Technical Education program. "It works by integrating rigorous academics with career-based learning in school and in real-world professional workplaces. Students also are provided academic support and counseling."

Linked Learning finds connections between basic high school subjects and a student's interest in a career or college program. It has been in use by several San Diego Unified high schools; Kearny High School of Digital Media and Design and the Construction Tech Academy are certified Linked Learning campuses.

“These 20 pilot projects combine two of California’s greatest strengths: our diversity and our capacity for innovation,” Torlakson said. “They aim to serve hundreds of thousands of students from districts all over the state, and I am confident they will help students use their time in school to learn real-world skills and graduate prepared to contribute to the future of our state.”

Schools in other San Diego County districts are involved through the Linked Learning San Diego Consortium, a partnership of five school districts within San Diego County: San Diego Unified, Carlsbad Unified School District, Escondido Union High School District, Oceanside Unified School District, and Grossmont Union High School District. Long Beach Unified School District is serving as a mentor to the consortium, with support from ConnectEd California (a statewide group that advances career-technical education) and the University of San Diego.

The consortium will work to develop and share innovative Linked Learning strategies among its members, take advantage of economies of scale through regional collaboration, build transition strategies with feeder middle schools, strengthen collaboration with local institutes of higher learning, and serve as a model for replication of best practices.

Each of the high schools offers unique programs that appeal to students, helping to raise academic achievement and graduation rates.

• SciTech at San Diego High offers: Engineering and Design, Health Science and Medical Technology.
• Multimedia, Visual and Performing Arts at San Diego High: Arts, Media and Entertainment.
• School of Business and Leadership at San Diego High: Public Service, Finance and Business.
• Hoover High: Information Technology; Building Trades and Construction; Engineering and Design; Health Science and Medical Technlolgy.
• Clairemont High: Business And Finance; Arts, Media and Entertainment.
• Crawford HIgh: Public Services; Health Science and Medical Technology
• Digital Media and Design at Kearny High: Arts, Media, and Entertainment
• Science Connections and Technology at Kearny High
• Construction Technology Academy at Kearny

For more information on the programs, contact Shawn Loescher, Director, Office of College Career and Technical Education at sloescher@sandi.net.