2024 Linked Learning Youth Survey Points to Education Priorities Pivotal to Golden State Pathways Program Implementation

Today the California Department of Education announced new consortium grants and planning and implementation grants for the Golden State Pathways Program (GSP). After multiple setbacks and periods of uncertainty, this news is a resounding victory for young people across California.

With significant new funds soon flowing to local education agencies in many California regions, decisionmakers across the state are hungry for insights—specifically on what students really want and need so that these strategic college and career preparation investments in fact deliver equity and economic returns as planned.

To help meet this demand, the Linked Learning Alliance is pleased to release topline findings from our annual survey of thousands of high school students enrolled in Linked Learning pathways across the state. Conducted every year since 2020, the survey has brought student voices to timely conversations about student experiences during the pandemic, their concerns during critical transition years, and how to engage their interests in the workforce of the future.

The 2024 survey channels the perspectives of its 4,413 young respondents in ways that should guide GSP implementation as it unfolds. This year’s findings stress the importance of learning experiences that provide students with:

• Meaning and motivation
• Support and sense that they are valued
• Connections to life after high school
• Confidence and readiness for college and career
• Opportunities to take positive steps toward their futures

For example, 80% of Linked Learning students surveyed said they felt able to apply what they’re learning in academic classes to real-world opportunities. And 81% said they are in a supporting and inviting place to learn.

“My engineering teacher was helping me prepare for our presentation to many manufacturers, engineers, and business executives,” noted one Fresno Unified School District 12^th grader surveyed. “It showed me that he really did want me to succeed, and it gave me very helpful insight on what professional things will look like in the future.”

All of the findings point to the value of integrating relevant, real-world experiences with rigorous academic learning and support—both priorities of the Linked Learning approach and major GSP investments.

Download the survey report.