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½ûÂþÌìÌà College & Career Pathways’ mission is to create more personalized, relevant, and engaging learning experiences where every student has access to rigorous college-level coursework, personalized student supports, career and technical education (CTE), and project-based learning.

Introducing vertically integrated, thematically focused pathways provides a framework for students' individual classes and educational experiences to hang together. Whether industry, STEAM, or humanities-focused, a theme would help students make connections between disciplines, and provide opportunities to engage in authentic, inquiry-driven, interdisciplinary work. 

Although schools' specific pathways would be designed in collaboration with their communities, each of these vertically integrated cohorts would be characterized by the following design principles:

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Teachers would have common planning time to develop an interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum that prioritizes deep inquiry over breadth. Common formative, performance, and portfolio assessments would allow teachers to monitor the effectiveness of their teaching and make adjustments based on student need.

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Each pathway would offer a continuum of thematically aligned project-based learning that would allow students to apply  knowledge and skills from multiple content areas to engaging questions, problems, or challenges. This continuum would also include career awareness, exploration and preparation opportunities such as workplace tours, job shadows, student-based enterprises, and internships. 

CAREER/INDUSTRY/THEMATIC FOCUS

Each comprehensive school would provide 3-6 vertically integrated pathways, depending on school size. Ideally, each pathway would enroll at least 200-300 10th through 12th grade students, and be organized around a theme. These themes could be Humanities and/or STEAM based (e.g. Arts and Social Justice) or connected to a specific career or industry (e.g. Global Health and Innovation).

INTEGRATED CTE AND CORE

Pathways would include high levels of integration between CTE and core academic classes. To facilitate this, teachers would have common planning time and would be encouraged to earn dual CTE and academic endorsements. CTE coursework would include state-approved programs of study that allow students to earn industry certifications and stackable credentials.

PERSONALIZED STUDENT SUPPORTS 

Small pathways learning communities of 200-400 students would improve the ability of teams of teachers and counselors to monitor student progress and design, track, and adjust interventions. More broadly, pathways would provide a sense of community and improve students’ sense of belonging.

SPECTRUM OF IMPLEMENTATION

These design principles can be implemented in ways that take into account the size, structure, and specialized nature of focus-option, alternative, and charter schools. For example, Benson would continue to be the focus-option CTE high school for students interested in programs offering more in-depth project-based and work-based learning opportunities, and specialized facilities, equipment, and staff. Jefferson, Alliance, Metropolitan Learning Center, and Community Based Organizations would still function as district-wide options for students. Implementation in the districts’ alternative education system could leverage and accelerate the federally funded Personalized, Relevant, Engaged for Postsecondary (PREP) Project.