Teachers created Social Justice Humanitas Academy (SJ Humanitas) envisioning a school that would “not only be a place of learning, but also a resource for the community.” Thus, they designed a community school that would bring together local resources, incorporate collaborative structures, and support students. The practices implemented at SJ Humanitas support whole child education to advance outcomes and support student well-being in alignment with the science of learning and development.
When used effectively, performance assessments support the development of students’ higher-order thinking skills, help improve teachers’ instructional practices, and ultimately allow students to demonstrate college and career readiness through a culminating assessment. This study examines the role districts can play in fostering their effective use and looks at lessons learned in three California districts.
Performance assessments are a strategy to improve educational outcomes, but relatively little research examines the key conditions needed to support the implementation of high-quality performance assessments at the district, school, and classroom levels. Initiatives in three California school districts—Los Angeles, Oakland, and Pasadena—provide lessons learned and showcase the role districts can play in facilitating the effective use of performance assessments.
Community schools create opportunities for engaged and rigorous learning rooted in the assets and needs of students, families, and the larger community. As COVID-19 forced schools to close and shift to distance learning, teachers at two Los Angeles community schools adapted and created community-based learning projects that address issues currently affecting students’ lives.
