Multiple Pathways in California: An Emerging Option for High School Reform
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

EdSource report addresses critical questions about multiple pathway's potential.

Contact EdSource at: 650-917-9481

There is a movement afoot in California to change the very nature of high schools.

Based on the idea that career and college are complementary rather than competing goals, the "Multiple Pathways" approach proposes that the high school experience better integrate academics with real-world applications and include problem-based learning.

Hundreds of programs that fall under the Multiple Pathways umbrella are already in operation in California and there are now some 464 career academies operating in 33 of California's 58 counties.

But these programs serve only a fraction of the state's high school students. And while evaluations of the approach have shown some benefits for the students that participate, implementing this type of program more broadly presents a variety of challenges.

Nonetheless, at a time when roughly 1 in 5 students drops out of high school in California, calls for reform are becoming more urgent and the Multiple Pathways approach has gained visibility and momentum.

This new EdSource report describes the state of the pathway reform effort in California and the possibilities and challenges it raises. Learn about the Multiple Pathways approach, who is supporting it, who has tried it out, and what the assessments so far have revealed, including profiles of four high schools, one each in Oakland, Antioch, Porterville and San Diego.

The report is available free to journalists and we've made it easier than ever to access. There's no password required!
-> To download the report now, go to here.

-> To speak to a member of our research staff about this report, call our office: 650-917-9481.

About EdSource:
EdSource is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to clarify complex education issues and to promote thoughtful policy decisions about public school improvement. Over nearly three decades, we have developed a solid reputation as a credible and respected source of K14 education information, research, analysis, and data.