INTRODUCTION
California's public servants, including the Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Legislators, have a significant responsibility and will have the power to uplift millions of Californians and brighten their futures. The past few years have been marked by both incredible struggle for California's children, families and residents; and important progress towards better policies and systems change to serve them. While these successes should be celebrated, significant work remains.
Serving as a powerful business-education intermediary, UNITE-LA connects the business community to education-systems leaders to work together to create an equitable education and workforce system through local, state and federal policies and investments. Over the last 25 years, UNITE-LA has sparked collaboration between nontraditional stakeholders and contributed to historic budgetary and legislative victories on issues, such as: Transitional Kindergarten, Paid Family Leave (PFL), Reimbursement Rate Reform, Dual Language Learning, community schools, financial aid completion, immigration and workforce development for opportunity youth. These policy wins have resulted in investments that have improved lives in historically marginalized communities and improved economic mobility.
We are all responsible for transforming our institutions and systems to support all students in reaching their full potential. This necessitates a cradle-through-career approach to ensure California’s education and workforce systems are focused on racial and social justice and are better coordinated — from cradle through career — to create a seamless path for students across the whole developmental spectrum.
OUR POLICY TEAM
STATE POLICY & BUDGET PRIORITIES
UNITE-LA's mission is to ensure the continuous improvement of effective and aligned cradle-through-career public education and workforce development systems in Los Angeles and throughout California. Our commitment to anti-racism is fundamental in advancing equity for Asian, Black, Latinx, Indigenous and other communities of color, especially opportunity youth, immigrants and systems-involved individuals.
Read Our Cradle-through-Career Policy and Budget Priorities →
JANUARY 2025 BUDGET LETTER
As an organization that advocates for cradle-through-career education and workforce development policy, UNITE-LA believes that the investments elevated in the following letter will help lift vulnerable Californians and provide them with equitable opportunities for economic mobility.
FEDERAL POLICY GOALS
Our federal education and workforce development systems have the ability to more effectively meet the diverse needs of all students, their families and their communities. The current systems are siloed, and many key programs, services and leaders are not coordinated in a way that centers students. This creates a system without smooth transitions between services and programs, and often means students are not supported to reach their full potential. Interagency coordination efforts being developed among the Departments of Education, Labor and Commerce will more effectively uplift the success among youth and adults in the workforce. Interagency connections must be strengthened, and employers and workforce development partners must be engaged to ensure a competitive, qualified and well-compensated workforce.
Read Our Federal Policy Goals →
EDUCATION MEANS BUSINESS WEBINARS
UNITE-LA’s Education Means Business webinar series provides diverse stakeholders in the region, including the business community, with the opportunity to connect with and hear from content experts, elected officials and community leaders on the latest policy topics impacting education and workforce development areas. Keep up to date through this bi-monthly webinar series.
View Policy Clips and Previous Webinars →
