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High School Pathways: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Los Angeles, California, USA,Tuesday, July 14, 2026
What the Linked Learning Alliance Is Doing
- 600+ “pathways” act like mini‑majors for high school students.
- Students pick a career theme (engineering, IT, agriculture, public policy, entertainment) and take matching classes.
- The goal: give students a real‑world taste before graduation.
How It Works
- Dual enrollment, internships, and industry certifications earn college credits.
- Professionals speak directly in schools, offering insider insights.
- A recent survey shows most participants feel the program adds real value and boosts readiness for life after high school.
Student Impact
- Using professional tools makes learning relevant and exciting.
- 10th‑grader: “Using industry software made me feel like a real expert.”
- Another student: “Stepping into a biomedical lab opened up career possibilities I hadn’t considered.”
- Coursework connects to future jobs, smoothing the transition into adulthood.
Funding and Expansion
- $500 million trust (2014), renewed with another $500 million (2022).
- Funds expand pathways, build work‑based learning infrastructure, and forge workforce‑education partnerships.
School Success Stories
- Hollywood High’s New Media Academy demonstrates cultural change, teaching project management, teamwork, and adaptability—skills useful for college or direct entry into the workforce.
Equity Focus
- Aims to level the playing field for low‑income students.
- Breaks away from old tracking systems, allowing all students to pursue both college and career goals simultaneously.
- Even those who miss internships benefit from networking events where industry experts review student projects.
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