Linked Learning Alliance Issues Statement on Governor's May Revise
Governor Gavin Newsom announced his May revision to the 2022-2023 budget proposal today. The proposal now goes before the legislature which must approve a final 2022-2023 California budget by June 15.
In response, the Linked Learning Alliance issued the following statement:
We applaud the Governor’s May Revise for preserving a once-in-a-lifetime investment in California’s young people. These investments will drive California’s economic strength by providing more than $2 billion to link students to meaningful high school experiences that combine classroom and career-based learning, smooth their transitions to postsecondary education, and connect them to good jobs in the state’s high-demand, high-growth sectors.
The $2 billion investment in the Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP) and dual enrollment constitutes an extraordinary commitment to addressing an equally extraordinary workforce development crisis. Proposed investments in GSPP and dual enrollment bring high school, career, and college together to keep students engaged and prepare them for life after high school. With these opportunities, students can develop the knowledge and skills they need to fulfill employers’ demands for workers who are both technically competent and emotionally mature while also accessing comprehensive supports that accelerate entry and success in all forms of postsecondary education.
A multi-year evaluation found that the students who participate in high-quality college and career pathways have decreased dropout rates, higher graduation rates, more credits earned, and improved skills for success in the workplace compared to similar peers in traditional high school programs. College and career pathways have especially positive effects for students who start high school behind academically and for students of color.
The strength of our workforce depends on our ability to keep young people engaged in learning and connected to college and good jobs. It calls for multi-pronged solutions which start well before college and ensure students are on a pathway that accelerates their progress through school and into the workforce. Investing in Golden Pathways and dual enrollment brings cohesion to the past investments California has made in education. It creates coherence across funding streams by directly connecting legislative language related to Career Technical Education Innovation Grant (CTEIG), GSPP, K-12 Strong Workforce Program (SWP), the dual enrollment proposal, and other funding sources. It’s the glue that ensures everything holds together and works together to achieve positive and equitable education, social, and economic outcomes throughout California.
Together, we can support student success through college and career. Proposed investments in GSPP and dual enrollment can bring harmony to the entire learning experience, helping bridge the gap many students struggle to navigate between grade 12 and college and preparing all to fuel California’s economy of today and tomorrow.
We look forward to working with Gov. Newsom, his Administration, and the Legislature to ensure that the final 2022-23 state budget agreement connects young people to learning that is personally and professionally relevant. Doing so helps ensure our economic recovery and ability to thrive in the future.