Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1518807
AUHSD teacher leads, who collaborate with other teachers to develop curriculum and classroom lessons, and lead their site team that includes administrators, parents, students and community partners. T H E C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L S M O V E M E N T in Anaheim is flourishing, in no small part due to the efforts and shared leadership of Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association (ASTA), Anaheim Union High School District, students, par- ents and community partners. To date, 16 of 21 middle and high schools in AUHSD, whose students speak almost 50 languages in their homes, have transitioned to community schools. The ASTA/AUHSD "Leading and Learning Days," which are informational tours and presentations at those schools, have drawn hundreds of educators from across California and nationwide. While each community school is different because of the unique needs and assets of the communities they serve, they all work through a shared decision-making model, where community school steering committees (CSSC) comprised of multiple stakeholders — educators, district administrators, students, parents, community partners — have equal voice and input. The Anaheim steering committees (at the district level and school site level) have proved models of collaboration and effective leadership. So much so that in February, ASTA received a $750,000, three-year grant from NEA's Great Public Schools initiative to establish, in collaboration with the district and other partners, a National Community Schools Learning Lab. Starting this fall, NCSLL will offer a series of multi-day pro- grams to help teams of stakeholders across the state and the country launch inclusive, functional steering committees. The Lab will also focus on training community school teacher leads, and training on curriculum and instruction that reflect A Learning Lab New program in Anaheim serves nationwide need By Katharine Fong for Community Schools 28 cta.org Feature C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L S