SRI International Education Researchers to Evaluate California High School Initiative on Industry-Themed Pathways
MENLO PARK, Calif. —September 24, 2009—SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development institute, today announced that it has been awarded a $2 million grant by The James Irvine Foundation to evaluate the California Multiple Pathways District Initiative, which aims to transform school districts’ high school options by offering students a choice of numerous industry-themed "pathways" that will prepare them for postsecondary education and work. Pathways are designed to connect classroom learning with "real-world" applications through multi-year programs of study organized around broad industry themes that integrate rigorous academic instruction with a demanding technical curriculum and work-based learning.
The California Multiple Pathways District Initiative is funded by the Irvine Foundation and managed by ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career, an independent nonprofit organization established by the Irvine Foundation. The overall goal of the initiative is to support districts in developing a system of multiple pathways that lead to improved high school graduation and college-attendance rates, increased academic achievement and learning, and increased earning power after graduation, especially for low-income youth. SRI’s evaluation will provide data that examine district-level implementation of a system of pathways and student outcomes associated with a pathways approach. The evaluation will conclude in January 2013.
In June 2009, after an extensive planning and review process, ConnectEd awarded grants of over $1 million to each of six school districts throughout California to develop systems of pathways. All six districts—Antioch Unified, Long Beach Unified, Pasadena Unified, Porterville Unified, Sacramento City Unified, and West Contra Costa Unified—will be included in the evaluation of the initiative.
Districts that received these two-year implementation grants are expected to offer high school students an expanded choice of high-quality pathways that help prepare them for academic and career success. Existing programs available in these school districts include: biomedical and health sciences; engineering; business and finance; agriculture and renewable resources; and arts, media, and entertainment. All programs are designed to be suitable and accessible to any high school student.
"SRI has designed a rigorous evaluation to support ongoing program improvement and contribute to a greater understanding of education initiatives that can facilitate student success and achievement," said Nancy Adelman, Ed.D., associate director of SRI's Center for Education Policy and the principal investigator for the evaluation. "Our experienced research team will conduct an evaluation that includes site visits to school districts, student surveys, and analysis of student outcomes data."
