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The Small Schools Alliance - Mission

The Small Schools Alliance ("SSA") is a coalition of L.A.'s students, parents, community organizations, educators, business leaders, community advocates and elected officials dedicated to transforming the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) into the best public school system in the nation within the next 10 years.

The Small Schools Alliance is committed to building a broad-based movement to transform public schools in LAUSD and is working tirelessly to establish a culture of success for students in LAUSD schools. SSA is committed to bringing diverse communities across sectors to advocate for the establishment of schools that expect students to succeed- and by design- prepare them to succeed.

Our Mission: A Catalyst for Change

SSA will serve as a catalyst to secure an agreement between the LAUSD Board of Education and Superintendent, Los Angeles Mayor, and other key appointed/elected officials and community stakeholders expecting the transformation of LAUSD into the best school district in the country within 10 years by utilizing the Small Schools Alliance's "Six Tenets of High Performing Public Schools."

We Believe:

•	All children in Los Angeles deserve an exceptional public education and every child should be prepared to go to college upon high school graduation;
•	All schools will be successful if operated using The Six Tenets of High Performing Public Schools (see below);
•	Every leader in the Los Angeles area including the Mayor of Los Angeles should take responsibility for the success of our public schools; and
•	Collaboration between stakeholders- including students, parents, community organizations and elected officials- is essential to successfully change our schools.

Six Tenets of High Performing Public Schools: Our Guiding Principles

The Small Schools Alliance believes that within ten years, all public schools in LAUSD can be transformed into High Performing Public Schools with the following Six Tenets:

1.	Small Schools: All schools should be 500 students or fewer. LAUSD is undertaking a $14 Billion bond-funded construction program that can be used to create small schools;
2.	High Expectations for all Students: Every student will take a rigorous curriculum. All high school students will have a college-prep curriculum that meets the University of California/California State University A-G requirements for college entrance;
3.	Local Control: Increase local control so that critical decisions at each school, including budgets and personnel, are made on-site and by school principals and teachers;
4.	Get Dollars into the Classroom: Shift school revenues away from central administration and toward teachers. Teachers should be paid more and be granted increased input into key policy decisions such as curriculum selection and elective classes;
5.	Parent Participation & Engagement: Expect greater parental participation by requiring that families of students dedicate at least 30 hours annually to their child's/children's education experience (through volunteering, tutoring at home, etc.); and
6.	Keep Schools Open Later: Schools will be kept open until at least 5 p.m. during school days to accommodate the schedules of working families and the needs of the community at large.

We expect to transform LAUSD. We know that this is huge task- which is why we are committed to a securing a broad-base of support, across sectors and regions within the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Above all, we know that the children of Los Angeles are counting on adults to advocate for them. A high-quality public education is the most important legacy we can create for our children.

The SSA is a nonpartisan educational organization. It does not support or oppose any candidates for office.

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to find out more about the Small Schools Alliance, and to sign our pledge, please visit our website: www.SmallSchools.org or feel free to contact: Alma Marquez, (323) 304-0524 alma@smallschools.org .