3DE: Re-Engineering High School Education

Youth economic advancement

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Los Angeles is experiencing a growing number of “opportunity youth” (also known as disconnected youth), individuals between 16-24 who are neither working nor enrolled in school. A recent study by the USC Center for Social Innovation estimates that 14% of the city’s young people, approximately 73,000 youth, fall into this category. South LA has a particularly high concentration of opportunity youth, with Compton significantly impacted; 24.5% of students did not complete the 9th grade, and just 59.2% graduate.
California does not currently require high school students to complete a financial literacy course to graduate, ranking the state among the lowest in financial literacy despite having the largest economy in the nation. This lack of preparation means we are not equipping our students to be engaged and productive members of the economy. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring that all young people in Los Angeles can succeed and contribute meaningfully to society.

3DE by Junior Achievement is the revolutionary approach to high school education that essentially adds a “dimension” or layer of additional context and connection between classroom learning and the community. Strategically developed “case challenges” combined with intentionally structured 21st century workforce learning objectives supplement conventional curriculum and learning modalities with relevant, practical skills that give them confidence and preparation to succeed in the real world. Students gain the experience of specific, targeted learning “case challenges” provided as examples from real partnering businesses, that expand their knowledge and understanding of the local economy and career and business prospects around them. The case challenges also give students realistic, grade-appropriate project-based group learning opportunities to master 21st century career-ready skills, such as self-direction, problem solving, public speaking and analysis. This ongoing succession of case challenge exercises throughout the four years of high school teaches students through practice how to engage with future employers, how to have confidence in their own ideas, and how to work as part of a team. 3DE facilitates learning that reflects the world in which we live and empowers students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to unlock greater economic opportunity.

JASoCal envisions a Los Angeles where every student, regardless of background or zip code, has access to rigorous and relevant education. In this vision, every student is positioned for success in their post-secondary plans. Students will gain the essential skills and equal opportunity to be college-ready and career-ready, to pursue their passions and find independence, stability and success. As students develop advanced critical thinking skills and business experience, with the active support of volunteers from partnering local companies, they are empowers to take control of their futures, reach for competitive business success and increase local rates of employment, entrepreneurship and leadership within Los Angeles County. 3DE will change the trajectories of hundreds of high schoolers, ensuring more students can achieve their full potential and drive the economic and social progress of the city, advance research and spur innovation.

JASoCal collaborates with the 3DE National Team to implement, support, monitor, and evaluate the 3DE implementation model. The 3DE National Team has established comprehensive evaluation protocols and a data-sharing agreement with JASoCal to review annual progress while protecting student identities. Successful 3DE implementation is determined by improvements in absenteeism rates, graduation rates, and academic performance over a four-year cohort. Over the past 8 years, data from 3DE schools show that the instructional model: (1) increases student engagement and attendance, (2) boosts academic achievement and graduation rates, and (3) enhances student competitiveness in the new economy. Specifically, 92% of 3DE students successfully graduated, 85% feel a stronger sense of belonging at school (compared to 61% of rising 9th graders), and 86% find their education more relevant (compared to 46% of rising 9th graders).