Happy Holidays from the Linked Learning Alliance!
Don't miss the opportunity to SAVE on registration! 
The Linked Learning Convention theme for 2016 is Unlocking the Promise of Linked Learning with Quality, Fidelity, and Innovation. Come to learn, collaborate, and build relationships that will help expand Linked Learning opportunities for students in your community and beyond. 

Early Bird Registration ends on December 4, 2015 -- Register Today!
All payments must be received by Dec 4th in order to qualify for early bird pricing. Please visit our website for more details.
Hotel Discount Ends: December 18, 2015 -- Book Your Stay!
Some of our Featured Speakers
See Linked Learning in Action, Attend a Site Visit
The Pre-Conference, including a site visit  to Kearny High School is SOLD OUT! Please check the Site Visit tab on our website to see what other site visits are available and see first hand what Linked Learning students are learning.
CTE Incentive Grant Application  
The California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CCTEIG) provides $900 million over three years ($400 million in Year One, $300 million in Year Two, and $200 million in Year Three) for CTE programs geared toward a successful transition to postsecondary education and careers. Grant recipients must match CCTEIG funding with local dollars according to a scale that varies by year. 

The application is a TWO part application. Deadline to submit Part 1 was November 30th and deadline to submit Part 2 is December 11th. You must submit Part 1 in order to qualify for Part 2. You can find resources here.

Read this great article on why career and technical education must be integrated with academic coursework written by  Gary Hoachlander, President of ConnectEd and Christopher J. Steinhauser, Superintendent of Long Beach Unified.
White House highlights Linked Learning
Last month, the Obama Administration hosted the first-ever White House Summit on Next Generation High Schools. The summit was a forum to showcase innovative strategies that are effective at empowering students to seize opportunities in today's economy and preparing students for success in college and career. Linked Learning was highlighted as a strategy for redesigning high schools and leading this initiative to redesign high schools in order to meet today's thriving economy.

See where Linked Learning is mentioned in the White House Press Release and Fact Sheet. #NextGenHS
CSU Receives $1M to Support Teacher Education in Linked Learning
The California State University received a $1 million grant from The James Irvine Foundation to expand the CSU's existing Linked Learning teacher preparation programs by creating a counselor certification and a master's degree with a specialization in Linked Learning. The project will also enhance knowledge about Linked Learning by supporting research that will identify key factors for successful implementation and outcomes. Read more.
Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges Unanimously Approves Workforce Task Force Recommendations
Last month, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors approved 25 recommendations made by the  Board of Governor's Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy to increase California competitiveness and job creation by increasing the number of students obtaining CTE degrees and certificates, thus with the goal of closing California's skills gap. Several Linked Learning Alliance board members served the task force.  The report includes recommendations to help strengthen work-based learning, align high school and postsecondary pathways through state-level strategies, and incentivize impactful practices and partnerships between secondary, postsecondary and workforce partners.  Read more.
Grant Opportunity: Dual Enrollment Pell Grant Experiment
The U.S. Dept of Education announced last month the launch of an experiment that would allow low-income high school students to have access to Pell Grants to pay for college courses. Colleges that want to create or expand partnerships with local education agencies to adopt an early college design or pathways may be well positioned for this opportunity. Eligible institutions must submit a letter of interest to the Department of Education no later than February 1, 2016. Read more in this article by Jobs For the Future. 
2016 Educator Excellence Summit hosted by the California Department of Education
The California Department of Education (CDE) is providing $490 million to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and state special schools to provide professional development and promote educator quality and effectiveness.

CDE is hosting the California Educator Excellence Summit on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 in Sacramento, in order for LEAs to share promising practices and make research-aligned decision regarding how they will spend their share of the $490 million. We encourage all Linked Learning District Leaders to consider submitting proposals about their innovative and effective practices for training and professional development that have been effective and sustainable investments.

The deadline to submit proposals is December 4th.
Shop and Donate to the Linked Learning Scholarship Fund
Shopping for gifts this holiday at Amazon.com?
The Linked Learning Alliance is partnering with Policy Impact to offer college scholarships to Linked Learning seniors. 

All you have to do is click on this link and 0.5% of every purchase you make will go to support the future of a Linked Learning student.
News & Events
Linked Learning Alliance | 916.248.4848 | linkedlearning.org
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