UCLA SMP has identified the following strategic advantages to its efforts in supporting the sustainable transformation of public schools into learner-centered organizations where all students can achieve at high levels:

• UCLA SMP is connected to a graduate school of education.  UCLA combines the expertise of education and researchers in the development and delivery of its programs.
• UCLA SMP addresses school- and district-level change.  UCLA SMP has developed effective programs that address the needs of individuals, schools, district offices, and the broader community.  This systemic scope increases the likelihood that improvements will be sustained over time.
• UCLA SMP has a highly experienced team of school coaches and facilitators.  These members of UCLA SMP’s faculty have significant, first-hand experience in education and many have a background as school board members, superintendents, principals and teachers.  UCLA SMP faculty are not hired as consultants, rather they are with the program full-time in order to provide optimal support to UCLA SMP’s client schools and districts.
• UCLA SMP is conducts ongoing research on school effectiveness.  UCLA SMP is unique in attaching ongoing academic research to its programs, the results of which allow UCLA SMP to be the most effective in helping schools increase student achievement.
• UCLA SMP works with all school stakeholders to build a broad leadership base. UCLA SMP recognizes that a school community includes parents, classified staff, and community members, in addition to teachers, principals, and district staff. All of these stakeholders have a significant impact on the school environment, and UCLA SMP’s attention to them gives its programs a distinct advantage.