CHARTER and AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (CASLA)
GRANT OVERVIEW
The U.S. Department of Education’s School Leadership program awarded a five-year, multi-million dollar grant to the university for the creation of the Charter and Autonomous School Leadership Academy (CASLA) in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
A major goal of the program is to develop effective, knowledgeable, and entrepreneurial school leaders who will improve student achievement in the more than 160 LAUSD sponsored charter schools and 70+ plus autonomous schools within the LAUSD service area. Through the CASLA leadership academy, current and aspiring principals from public charter schools and independently operated public schools will be able to earn their preliminary and professional administrative credentials, master’s degrees, and receive on-going training and support.
Additional innovative features of the project include: the CASLA Learning Community, featuring large and small groups meeting in-person and in virtual communities; retention activities to decrease isolation for charter and autonomous school principals; a CASLA Service Center on campus that will serve as a placement clearinghouse; university mentors and field coaches for all participants; and extensive incentives to encourage participation and retention of administrators in charter and autonomous schools throughout Los Angeles.
The University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, Arizona State University’s Entrepreneurial Charter Leadership Program, New York Leadership Academy, CalWest Educators, Urban School Imagineers and WestEd are among the many contributing partners.
CHARTER and AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
GOALS
Goal 1: Recruit diverse cohorts of qualified current and aspiring leaders of charter and autonomous schools that serve underperforming students in LAUSD.
Goal 2: Provide high-quality training and support to prepare participants to attain credential, degree, or skills needed for leadership of charter and autonomous schools.
Goal 3: Place and retain participants as leaders in charter or autonomous schools in order to increase student achievement in LAUSD.
Goal 4: Build the capacity of principals to achieve teaching and learning gains in persistently low-achieving schools.
