As co-convener of LAUSD's Community Schools Initiative (CSI), UNITE-LA supported the implementation of the Meaningful Teaching and Learning (MTL) resolution, which empowers five designated community schools to redesign instruction and assessment toward deeper, more relevant and equity-centered learning aligned with student and community needs.

Freed from non-mandated standardized testing, these schools are piloting project- and community-based learning centered (PBL/CBL) that gives students multiple ways to demonstrate mastery. Through expert interviews and research synthesis, UNITE-LA identified key instructional, cultural and structural conditions required for success, including alignment of performance-based assessments to real world learning, sustained and rigorous teacher collaboration and professional development and flexible district policies to support site-level innovation. To this end, UNITE-LA worked closely with the Community Schools Steering Committee and LAUSD leadership to align district guidance, professional learning and implementation support during this first year kickoff. Schools are participating in coordinated PBL and CBL trainings, clarifying roles and expectations, and strengthening equity-centered instructional practice. Together, these actions are building the conditions to scale meaningful, student-centered learning over the next three years.

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