UCLA School Management Program (SMP)

Personalized Support for Learning Communities

SMP believes that those who are involved in schools and districts on a day-to-day basis are in the best position to understand the needs of their students and community, and that change is not sustainable without their involvement in and commitment to the process. SMP therefore tailors its partnerships with each school and district in order to best meet their unique needs. This model of school improvement planning involves developing a deep understanding of these needs and providing the strategies that can be put into practice to support the continuous improvement of both individuals and the organization.

Best practices that SMP brings to a school site or district office include:

Coaching and leadership training
Professional grant writing support
Understanding and applying a Continuous Cycle of Inquiry model
Creating professional development settings that support and sustain change
Implementing inquiry-based professional development
Looking at student work and enhancing teacher effectiveness
Learning organization models – systems thinking / human dynamics / organizational development
Building sustainable Professional Learning Communities
Developing facilitation skills to support effective meetings

Customized professional development workshops can be developed out of these best practices, including programs that engage parents and other stakeholders within the school community.

Restructuring schools can also partner with SMP under one or both of the following initiatives:

Small Learning Communities (SLCs):

SMP works with schools and districts looking to create small learning communities where students and teachers know each other well, where all students learn rigorous curriculum, where diversity is cultivated to enrich the learning of all, and where all students achieve high level mastery of both content and skills. SMP’s vision of a small learning community is supported by its belief that significant, positive outcomes should be anticipated in the project.

Leading for Learning Initiative (LFL):

LFL is an introductory, school leadership program that supports the transformation of teams of stakeholders from schools and district offices into learning communities. This community will be characterized by a strong compelling identity, collegial relationships, conversation and dialogue, shared access to information and capacity for effective action, and continuous improvement based on analyzing and making decisions about the results of their work. Schools and district offices can choose to participate in an 18-month or three-year program.