Innovative Models

To learn about current innovative models being used to improve academic achievement and turn around schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, please click on your model of choice for more information.

	I Design In July 2007, the iDesign Schools Division was created by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education to support the transformation of LAUSD schools by cultivating school innovation proposals and community partnerships in an effort to increase high quality educational options for communities across Los Angeles. The underlying theory of change is that decentralization of authority and responsibility closer to school sites, coupled with increased accountability, will improve conditions necessary for excellence in teaching and learning. Schools are empowered by having site autonomy in governance, budget, curriculum, staffing, and professional development.
	Partnership for Los Angeles Schools With twelve schools, 18,000 students and 1,500 employees, The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is the largest non-district school operator in Los Angeles, and given its close relationship with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, it is the most visible. The Partnership's mission is to transform teaching and learning so all students have a foundation for academic excellence and personal success. The Partnership's goals are to turnaround some of the lowest performing schools in LAUSD and implement a scalable reform model that can be replicated district-wide. Working alongside LAUSD, the Partnership's impact will extend well beyond the current schools to make all students in LAUSD better prepared for college and rewarding careers.
	MLA Partner Schools MLA Partner Schools is a nonprofit organization working to improve schools and empower neighborhoods in some of the most disenfranchised communities in Los Angeles. MLA creates high performing urban schools that combine innovation, equity and access to offer a college-ready education to every child in the surrounding neighborhood. These schools become community focal points that support and strengthen their communities.
	LMU Family of Schools The LMU Family of Schools (LMU FOS) is dedicated to transformation and reform of public education in the Los Angeles region and beyond. By putting the university at the heart of the community and engaging with a myriad of stakeholder – teachers, students, parents, community, and policy makers – we leverage the assets and capacity of communities to create, support and sustain K-12 pipelines of success for all students. We bring a particular focus on closing the achievement gaps that exist in public education to create successful futures for all students.
	Greater Crenshaw Educational Partnership The mission of the Greater Crenshaw Educational Partnership (GCEP) is to actively generate and support unity of efforts among teachers, parents, administrators and the community in assuming responsibility for rigorous teaching, learning, and outstanding citizenship for all students in our community. GCEP is an independent non-profit bringing together community and academic institutions to help serve Crenshaw High School. Participating organizations in GCEP include the Los Angeles Urban League, the Tom & Ethel Bradley Foundation, and the University of Southern California.
	Belmont Zone of Choice A Pilot School is an autonomous small school with no more than 450 students from grades 9-12. Pilot Schools were established in 2007 as role models of educational innovation, and as research and development sites for effective teaching and learning in urban public schools. While Pilot Schools are part of the school district, they have autonomy over budget, staffing, governance, curriculum/ assessment, and the school calendar. This increased flexibility enables the school to further meet the needs of students and parents. English Spanish
	Kennedy Zone of Choice A Pilot School is an autonomous small school with no more than 450 students from grades 9-12. Pilot Schools were established in 2007 as role models of educational innovation, and as research and development sites for effective teaching and learning in urban public schools. While Pilot Schools are part of the school district, they have autonomy over budget, staffing, governance, curriculum/ assessment, and the school calendar. This increased flexibility enables the school to further meet the needs of students and parents. English Korean Spanish
	Camino Nuevo Under the Public School Choice Initiative, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy operates Castellanos Elementary School, a public LAUSD school.. Camino Nuevo was founded in August 2000 by Pueblo Nuevo Development, a nonprofit community development corporation in the MacArthur Park neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles. The MacArthur Park neighborhood is one of the poorest and most densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Most of the residents are immigrants from Mexico and Central America. In 1992, Philip Lance began working with residents of the community to find ways to address the severe economic and social problems in the area. Over the past 10 years, several organizations and businesses grew out of this effort, including a thrift store, a worker-owned janitorial company, a non-profit community development corporation, a charter school, free clinic and a pre-school. Together, these organizations are providing children with outstanding and enriched educational opportunities as well as revitalizing this urban neighborhood and making it a safe and healthy place to live.
	Para Los Niños Under thr Public School Choice initiative, Para Los Niños operates Gratts Primary Center, a public LAUSD school. Para Los Ninos is a nonprofit family service organization designed to bring children from some of Los Angeles’ most challenging communities out of poverty and onto brighter, more successful futures. Since opening its first facility in 1980, Para Los Niños has grown to serve more than 4,000 families each year at 28 sites throughout Pico-Union, Central, East, West, and South Los Angeles, South El Monte and Ontario. Every week, more than 4,600 children and youth – ranging from 6 weeks to 21 years of age – enjoy award-winning, positive educational opportunities and much-needed family support.