Urban School Districts Reform Initiative (USDRI)

To help Southern California public schools provide rich learning opportunities for students, Weingart Foundation launched the Urban Public School Districts Initiative in 2006, with an objective of supporting targeted reform efforts within districts with effective plans for change. Accordingly, the goal of the Initiative is to positively impact education by supporting sustainable reforms in districts educating high numbers of low-income students.  Visit http://www.weingartfnd.org/default.asp?pid=119 for more information about this Initiative.

Members of the CEEL research team were invited to partner with Lennox Unified School District (one of four districts participating in this Initiative) and are currently serving as evaluators for the district's reform initiative.   For more information about Lennox USD's English Language Development Intervention Program funded by the Weingart Foundation, contact Rosalinda Barajas, Program Coordinator at rosalinda_barajas@lennox.k12.ca.us.

PROMISE (Pursuing Regional Opportunities for Mentoring, Innovation, and Success for English Learners)
CEEL's partnership with the PROMISE Initiative entails developing teacher inservice and certificate programs, providing technical support for the Initiative, and conducting research in a collaborative design research model.    

The PROMISE Initiative is a response to the vast needs of English Learners in Southern California.  The goal of the PROMISE Initiative is to ensure that English Learners achieve and sustain high levels of academic, linguistic and multicultural competency and are successfully prepared for the 21st century.

For more information on PROMISE visit their Web site here.


LAUSD Achieving A+ Summit
The "Achieving A+ Summit: Acquisition of English plus Academic Achievement for All," hosted by the Los Angeles Unified School District, convened over 350 researchers, practitioners, and school districts with exemplary model programs from around the nation to focus on two key student populations – English Learner (EL) and Standard English Learner (SEL) students.  CEEL's association with LAUSD in this endeavor consisted of consultation activities related to pre-, during, and post summit events.  Additionally, the Center conducted parent interviews and prepared an education and policy brief in answer to the question:  "What do parents of English Learners and Standard English Learners say about the education of their children and about parent education and involvement in the Los Angeles Unified School District?"

For more information on the LAUSD Achieving A+ Summit visit their Web site here.

Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles (LCSLA)
LMU’s Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles (LCSLA) will collaborate with CEEL by conducting related research on leadership and policymaking in the Los Angeles education sector.

For more information on LCSLA vist their Web site here.