Developing a Performance Assessment System From the Ground Up: Lessons Learned From Three Linked Learning Pathways

This report is designed to offer practitioners models, tools, and examples from the Linked Learning Pathways Initiative for developing a performance assessment system. The California Linked Learning District Initiative is in its fifth year. The initiative has provided significant support to nine school districts to design, develop, and implement ambitious, career-themed pathways as a way to better prepare high school students for college, careers, and life after graduation. The report describes the challenges and successes practitioners encountered when developing and implementing authentic performance-based assessment practices and systems in Linked Learning pathways as well as the conditions that enabled this work.