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A message from Cora Watkins, Director
Community Schools Initiative
LA Unified Community Schools deliberately and collaboratively use a social justice theory of action to address the economic and social barriers that are the underlying cause of opportunity and achievement gaps so that all students can reach high levels of academic success in order to be ready to thrive in college, career, and life.
The LA Unified Community Schools Initiative will improve student outcomes through addressing students’ academic, cognitive, physical, mental, and social-emotional needs. Needs of children and youth will be met by building a positive school climate and trusting relationships, along with providing rich and rigorous learning opportunities that prepare all students to be ready for the world. The question is, how do we identify the work that needs to be done? How do we identify the "right" supports?
The starting point is the "ANA". Each of our Community Schools has been engaged this entire year in a deep Assets and Needs Assessment (ANA) process. The goal is to reach 75% to 100% of each school's interest-holder groups: students, parents, staff, faculty, and community partners, in order to go deep into discovering what is working well at the schools and what may need to work better.How this gargantuan task is best accomplished is through school teams led by the Community Schools Coordinators. The work of gathering this data is done through multiple means, including surveys, using existing data like the School Experience Survey(SES),1:1 empathy interviews, as well as taking into account street data, amongst other things. The data compilation will lead, potentially, to more questions, but will also help the school community to identify priorities related to each of the four Community Schools Pillars: Integrated Student Supports, Collaborative Leadership and Practices, Expanded and Enhanced Learning Opportunities, and Active Family and Community Engagement. These priorities must then be looked at within the context of available resources.What sets Community Schools apart from "traditional schools" is the extent to which this ANA process should, can, and does influence budget development and resource allocation. When we get down to the nitty-gritty of "social justice," it simply means the fair and equitable distribution of all resources to those within the ecosystem. ANA is the best process by which we get to a socially just budget.- CoraFor additional information, please contact Esperanza Martinez at emartinez@utla.net or Cora Watkins at cwatkins@lausd.net
