Designing an Integrated Program of Study
GSPP Outcome 1 grantee webinar: why integration matters for students and teachers, what it looks like, and how to strengthen your program of study.
GOLDEN STATE PATHWAYS PROGRAM (GSPP)
INTRODUCTIONS
Dan Storz
Vice President of Pathways Implementation
Linked Learning Alliance
Esther Soliman
Vice President of Pathways Implementation
Linked Learning Alliance
Bill Davis
Administrator
College & Career Readiness
Tulare County Office of Education
Therese Arnold
Grant Specialist
College & Career Readiness
Tulare County Office of Education
Gabriela Ceballos,
Support Specialist
Tulare County Office of Education
WELCOME
Today’s Session
You will leave with
1
A shared understanding of the GSPP Framework legislative requirements
2
A clear case for core and CTE integration from the student and teacher perspective
3
4
Ideas from practitioners who have built integrated programs of study
One idea for improvement to add to your GSPP Action Plan
WELCOME
Today’s Agenda
Agenda
9:00
Welcome and Poll 1: current focus
9:08
Grounding legislation and framework
9:18
Why integrate? Benefits to students and teachers
9:33
What integration looks like
9:43
Poll 2: Rate your program of study
9:48
Practitioner panel and Q&A
10:08
Poll 3: What will you improve?
10:22
Tools and next steps
10:25
Close
10:11
Building capacity to move ahead
WARM-UP · IN THE CHAT
When Did Learning Feel Real?
Think back to high school. When did something you learned in class feel real? What made it feel real?
POLL 1 · SINGLE CHOICE
Where Is Your GSPP Work Focused Right Now?
A
Launching a new pathway
B
Expanding an existing pathway to more students
C
Deepening integration in an established pathway
D
Planning for sustainability beyond the grant
Respond in the poll window. Results will be shared on screen.
Grounding in the GSPP Framework
“Pathways should not be considered a separate or discrete program that stands apart from academics or other student experiences. Rather, pathways are an educational approach to better connect and align all aspects of instruction to support a unified strategy preparing students for college and career success. This creates an academic experience for all students that is a “whole greater than the sum of its parts.” LEAs should strive for integration and coherence in all aspects of their pathways operation, from funding to programming to goals.”
Source: Golden State Pathways Program Framework. 2024, p 5. California Department of Education.
GSPP Outcome 1: Integrated Program of Study
“The core of each pathway is an integrated program of study which includes college preparatory academic coursework, opportunity for postsecondary credits, and CTE. In an integrated program of study, core academic and CTE courses … are intentionally connected and integrated, so that their content is mutually-reinforcing”.
Source: Golden State Pathways Program Framework. 2024, p 6. California Department of Education.
What the Integrated Program of Study Looks Like
Source: Golden State Pathways Program Framework. 2024. California Department of Education.
THE LEGISLATION
Education Code §53023
Outcome 1: Integrated Program of Study
§53023(a)(1)
Grantees commit to providing pupils “an integrated program of study that includes all of the courses to meet the A–G course requirements needed to be eligible for admission to the University of California or the California State University and at least one of the other criteria … as defined in the College/Career Indicator.”
§53023(b)
Grantees “develop and integrate standards-based academics with a career-relevant, sequenced curriculum following industry-themed pathways that are aligned to high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand jobs in their regional economy or the state economy.”
“Local educational agencies are encouraged to integrate career pathways content and applications into A–G courses.”
Source: California Education Code §53023 (Golden State Pathways Program). leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Mandates, separate and discrete programs, and GSPP outcome… Oh my!
Why Integrate?
Imagine the student perspective.
�How can we build a system to bring it
all together?
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Where do students in your pathway experience this?
Enhanced Academic Relevance & Engagement
Connecting academic subjects (math, science, English) with hands-on CTE applications makes learning concrete and increases student motivation
Dual Pathway to College & Career
Students satisfy college admissions requirements (e.g., California's A-G) while simultaneously earning early college credits and industry-recognized credentials
FOR STUDENTS
Why It Matters for Students
Higher Graduation & Equity Rates
Contextualized learning and wrap-around support systems reduce dropout rates and close achievement gaps for traditionally underserved students.
FOR STUDENTS
Why It Matters for Students
Smooth Postsecondary Transitions
Direct exposure to work-based learning and industry mentors accelerates career clarity and post-high school trajectory alignment.
FOR TEACHERS
Why It Matters for Teachers
1
Shared students, shared purpose
Cohorts let a teacher team know the same students and design learning around them together.
2
Time to connect content
Common planning time makes it possible to connect academic and CTE curricula. Without it, the Framework notes, teachers struggle to make those connections.
3
Content that comes alive
Industry partners, projects, and WBL give teachers authentic problems that make standards real for students.
4
A culture of professional learning
Collaborating on integrated work becomes adult learning that mirrors how we want students to learn.
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
Proven Outcomes for Pathway Students
+15.5
More Credits Earned
Average additional credits accumulated by high-need students.
+7.6%
Higher Graduation Rate
Significant reduction in high school dropout probability.
+11.6%
4-Year College Enrollment
Increased enrollment among underrepresented student populations.
Source: SRI International, evaluation of the California Linked Learning District Initiative.
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The Core Pillars of an Integrated Program of Study
Integrated Curriculum
Career-themed Interdisciplinary academic and CTE course alignment.
Work-Based Learning
Progressive continuum from awareness to internships and pre-apprenticeships.
Integrated Student Supports
Academic, social-emotional, post-secondary transitions.
An Integrated Pathway aligned to high-wage, high demand industry that provided a living and sustainable economic mobility.
Outcome 1: Integrated Program of Study
Outcome 2: Post Secondary Credits
Outcome 3: Work-based Learning
Outcome 4: Student Supports
WHY OUTCOME 1 COMES FIRST
Outcome 1: Integrated Program of Study Moves Most of Your Metrics
§53023 | GSPP Outcome | Metrics shared with Outcome 1 |
(a)(1) | 1. Integrated Program of Study | A-G rate, graduation, CTE course and pathway completion, industry certifications, postsecondary degrees |
(a)(2) | 2. Postsecondary Credits | Graduation, postsecondary degrees |
(a)(3) | 3. Work-Based Learning | Graduation, industry certifications |
(a)(4) | 4. Integrated Student Supports | A-G rate, graduation |
(b) | 5. Industry Connected Pathways | Graduation, CTE completion, industry certifications |
(c) | 6. Articulated Pathways | CTE pathway completion, postsecondary degrees |
(d) | 7. Collaboratively Built Pathways | A-G rate, graduation, CTE completion, certifications, degrees |
(e) | 8. Sustain Ongoing Operations | A-G rate, graduation, CTE completion, certifications, degrees |
All eight outcomes also share academic performance. Sources: Cal. Educ. Code §53023; Crosswalk of GSPP Outcomes and Metrics.
POLL 2 · SINGLE CHOICE (1–4)
How Would You Rate Your Program of Study Today?
1
Minimal
A-G and CTE courses run separately. Integration happens only when individual teachers choose to collaborate.
2
Emerging
A 3–4 year sequence is mapped, and some academic and CTE courses share units or projects at some grade levels. Not every student has full A-G access.
3
Effective
Most coursework is integrated at every grade. All students can meet A-G, courses are coded CTE in CALPADS, and teachers have common planning time.
4
Exemplary
All core and career courses are integrated. Students do industry-informed projects each year, with dual enrollment and WBL built into the sequence.
Adapted from the GSPP Pathway Evaluation Rubric, Outcome 1.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Questions for Our Panel
1
Describe your pathway and one integrated project or experience you’re proud of.
2
What changed for students? Share a story about engagement or motivation.
3
What changed for teachers? How did collaboration actually work, and what was hard?
4
What structural move made integration possible?
IN PRACTICE
Example: An Integrated Project
Driving question
[The real-world problem students solve]
Subjects integrated
[e.g., English, math, and the CTE course]
Industry partner role
[Input on the problem, feedback, judging]
Connection to WBL
[How the project links to the WBL continuum]
Student product
[What students create, and for which audience]
Supports for all students
[Scaffolds for ELL, students with IEPs]
High Quality Pathway Practitioners
Educators who have built integrated programs of study
Tiffany Jordan
Pathway Quality Coordinator
Oakland Unified School District
Kerin Coffey
Pathway Lead
Eastside High School, Biomedical Sciences Academy
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Tim Perrotta
Academy Lead
Mt. Whitney High School, Academy of Health Science�Visalia Unified School District
“Complete” example from Oakland High School
Connecting Academic Rigor with Technical Mastery
Interdisciplinary Projects
Math and science standards taught directly through industry problems and CTE lab projects.
Dual Enrollment
Early college classes integrated into the school day schedule ensuring competency alignment.
Industry Credentials
Stackable certificates embedded into student coursework.
Core Pillar: Work-Based Learning
Connecting Student Supports to the Program of Study
College and Career Culture
The pathway expects all students to pursue postsecondary education or training, exposes them to a range of options, and backs that expectation with targeted support for successful transitions
Personalized Support
The pathway team implements a coordinated plan of assessment and referral, engages families, and embeds self-management, growth mindset, and civic engagement into the program of study.
Student Voice
The pathway champions student leadership in articulating the pathway theme and gathers student feedback used to make real changes to the program of study.
Core Pillar: Integrated Student Supports
POLL 3 · SINGLE CHOICE
What Do You Most Want to Improve This Year?
A
Integrating career content into A-G courses
B
Teacher collaboration and common planning
C
Real-world application and industry input
D
A-G and early college access for all students
E
Master schedule and cohorting
F
Connecting WBL back to the classroom
Respond in the poll window. Results will be shared on screen.
OPTIONAL · BREAKOUT ROOMS
Breakout: From Priority to First Step
1
Join your breakout room (grouped by your Poll 3 choice, or random).
2
Each person shares their improvement priority and one first step.
3
Before returning, post your first step in the main chat.
5
minutes
YOUR COMMITMENT
Add It to Your GSPP Action Plan
Consider your action plan a living document. Leverage it to support and document your continuous improvement efforts.
Reach out to your RTAC for assistance
Capacity Building Strategies
Systems and conditions for success
E. Coherence and Integration
Program coherence is a guiding principle of GSPP implementation. The school must work with the community to support students and families, and business, industry, and labor must be engaged in more integral roles.
Coherence and Integration
| Visioning | Engaging | Transforming |
Unified Strategy for College and Career Success | Identify what pathway components need to be addressed to meet innovations of the pathway vision and ensure students are ready for college and career. | Align all pathway components, such as industry engagement, instruction, student supports, funding, and scheduling, to support the pathway’s program innovations to ensure student college and career success. | Ensure coherent and sustainable implementation of program innovations identified in the GSPP framework to support students’ postsecondary success. |
TOOLS AND SUPPORT
Resources for Your Next Steps
STEM Hollywood Program of Study
Pathway at a small high school in Los Angeles offering two CTE strands: Biomed and Engineering
[link to STEM Hollywood Program of Study.pdf]
Integrated Program of Study Template
Map and personalize your program of study
Capacity Building Strategies Guide
Use the Coherence and Integration strategy with your team.
[link to Capacity Building Strategies PDF]
Academy of Health Science Program of Study
Complete program of study from a newer integrated health pathway in Hollister
[link to AOHS Program of Study.docx]
Law and Social Justice Program of Study
A public service pathway at a comprehensive high school in Oakland with wall-to-wall pathways
[link to [OHS]-[LSJ]-Program of Study 10-12.pdf]
Presenters Information:
Kerin Coffey:
Pathway Lead
Eastside High School, Biomedical Sciences Academy
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Tiffany Jordan:
Pathway Quality Coordinator
Oakland Unified School District
Tim Perrotta:
Academy Lead
Mt. Whitney High School, Academy of Health Science�Visalia Unified School District
Dan Storz
Vice President of Pathways Implementation
Linked Learning Alliance
Esther Soliman
Vice President of Pathways Implementation
Linked Learning Alliance
Thank You
Please complete the evaluation: [link] · Next session: [date and topic]
GOLDEN STATE PATHWAYS PROGRAM (GSPP)