One year after the adoption of LAUSD’s “Aligning Site-Based Professional Development (PD), Collaboration & Decision-Making in the Community School and Pilot Models” resolution, UNITE-LA and district partners are helping translate policy into practice. Through the Community Schools Steering Committee (CSSC) and its Professional Development Subcommittee, stakeholders are working to strengthen site-based decision-making, collaborative leadership and professional learning across LAUSD Community Schools. Early implementation findings are helping identify opportunities to improve clarity, alignment and support as schools operationalize this work.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) CSSC, co-convened by UNITE-LA, closed out the 2025–26 school year with a review of implementation progress on the resolution. Adopted in May 2025, the resolution gives Community Schools greater authority over site-based professional development and establishes a framework for aligning professional learning, collaborative leadership and decision-making with each school's unique needs, transformation goals and community school strategy.

To support implementation, the CSSC-approved Community Schools Professional Development (PD) Subcommittee—comprised of representatives from LAUSD and United Teachers Los Angeles—has been leading coordinated efforts with facilitation and support from UNITE-LA. This spring, UNITE-LA helped design and administer a systemwide survey that gathered 112 responses from 58 of LAUSD’s 70 Community Schools, representing Community School Coordinators, Chapter Chairs, Local School Leadership Council members, principals and other school-based leaders.

Survey findings revealed both encouraging progress and important implementation challenges. While many respondents understood the goals of the PD Resolution and Collaborative Leadership, results showed uneven awareness of the resolution across school sites and varying levels of confidence in how collaborative decision-making is being implemented. Respondents consistently called for greater clarity around roles, responsibilities and expectations, as well as practical examples of effective implementation.

These findings are helping shape the next phase of work. The PD Subcommittee is developing strategies to strengthen awareness of the resolution, provide more implementation guidance and peer learning opportunities and support stronger alignment across school- and district-level governance structures. Together, these efforts aim to ensure Community Schools have the PD tools, guidance and support needed to fully realize the intent of the resolution.

For more information, please reach out to Jenny Vu, Director of Education Systems Strategy, at [email protected].