Research Brief: New Findings on the Benefits of Student Participation in Linked Learning

Abstract

This brief presents the latest findings from the evaluation of the California Linked Learning District Initiative. The new results are based on a hierarchical linear model (HLM) that estimated a single Linked Learning effect across participating districts. After adjusting for students’ background characteristics and prior achievement, we found that students enrolled in certified pathways across the districts 1) earned an average of 6.6 more credits in the 10th grade than similar peers in a more traditional high school program and 2) were 8.9 percentage points more likely to be on track at the end of 10th grade to complete the a-g requirements than similar peers in a more traditional high school program. These results are consistent with the findings in SRI International’s Fourth-Year Evaluation Report on the California Linked Learning District Initiative.