Partnerships between Schools and Industry Combine Rigor with Hands-On Learning

SAN JOSE — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that he will sponsor legislation to dramatically expand the number of California Partnership Academies in California from 290 to 500.

"Partnership Academies combine rigorous academics with a career focus and are proven to have a dramatic positive impact on students who participate," O'Connell said. "Research shows that students stay engaged in school when they are connected with caring adults and when they can see the real-world relevance of the skills they are learning. That's why California Partnership Academies are so successful even for students at risk of academic failure or dropping out of school. We need to expand these opportunities for students."

Expanding the number of California Partnership Academies is a key strategy in O'Connell's high school reform initiative that is focused on smaller learning communities and designed to engage students, personalize their learning, and promote strong relationships between students and teachers.

Partnership Academies are an effective school, district, and local industry partnership that provide integrated academic and career technical instruction to students at risk of dropping out of school or unmotivated by traditional curriculum.

The model is a three-year program for students in grades ten through twelve, structured as a school-within-a-school. Students in these academies learn through cross-curricula projects and from mentors in hands-on, real-world experiences to become better communicators, better problem solvers, and better thinkers – all skills demanded in the workplace and higher education.

Academy components include rigorous academics with a career focus, a team of teachers, and active business involvement, including the commitment of local industry and business partners to fully match state funding.

These programs are highly accountable and highly effective. Annual evaluations of California Partnership Academies consistently show improved student performance on attendance, credits earned, grade point averages, and graduation rates. To qualify for state funding, academy students are required to have good attendance and be on track to graduate. Ninety-five percent of students in these programs go on to graduate.

Expanding California Partnership Academies was a strong recommendation of the statewide P-16 Council, a council of leaders in education, business, and community organizations appointed by O'Connell in 2005 to identify ways to improve education.

O'Connell introduced similar legislation to expand the number of California Partnership Academies last year, but the bill was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee. O'Connell is committed to work with the Legislature again this year to see the legislation become law.

For more information on California Partnership Academies, please visit California Partnership Academies - High School.