Marking a major step forward, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD's) Board of Education unanimously passed the resolution “Aligning Site-Based Professional Development (PD), Collaboration & Decision-Making in the Community School and Pilot Models” on May 13, 2025. The resolution grants LAUSD community schools decision-making authority over all site-based PD, enabling schools to more intentionally align PD with their unique needs, transformation plans and community school strategies.

UNITE-LA is a proud partner of the Southern California Apprenticeship Network (SCAN), a network of businesses and employers, educators, workforce agencies, community-based organizations, labor and other interested organizations growing apprenticeship programs throughout Southern California. This quarter, we have helped drive several key initiatives, reflecting our commitment to expanding high-quality apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities across the region.

After a successful, statewide advocacy campaign led by UNITE-LA, Gov. Newsom signed AB 121, the 2025 Education Omnibus Trailer Bill, into law on June 28. AB 121 includes a no-cost extension for the Regional K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program, recognizing the importance and impact of L.A.’s collaborative, as well as the other 12 collaboratives across the state. The extension is a victory for our educational institutions, workforce alignment efforts and career pathway development across the state.

The L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative held its second Career Sector Advisory meeting, focused on the computer science sector, on May 13. The meeting, which convened local employers and K-12 and higher education teachers, faculty and administrators, began by exploring relevant labor market information (LMI) data. The data highlighted a need for developing pathways in key areas like cybersecurity and revealed trends that institutions and employers can use to stay ahead of evolving skill and hiring demands. It also identified persistent regional equity and attainment challenges.

A subcommittee of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD's) Community Schools Steering Committee (CSSC) is implementing the Meaningful Teaching and Learning (MTL) Resolution, which the school board adopted in September 2024. The three-year pilot will support five designated MTL community schools with implementing meaningful community- and project-based learning (CBL/PBL) and developing alternative performance-based assessments (PBAs) aligned with a holistic, culturally responsive vision of student success.

Over the past quarter, UNITE-LA presented at key gatherings, including the Los Angeles Postsecondary Funders Collaborative, California Workforce Association’s annual WORKCON and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s (LAEDC's) 88 Cities Summit, deepening our role as a thought partner and convener advancing equitable workforce development opportunities. We are actively sharing research to shed light on the barriers to effective workforce training and upskilling programs, especially for individuals with limited access to opportunity along the education-to-employment pathway. Recent presentations emphasized equity-driven, actionable recommendations, calling for increased investment in work-based learning, intermediary infrastructure and community-based providers to build a more coordinated, inclusive and responsive workforce development system.

Dear Partners,

We’re excited to introduce Systems Change Spotlight, an evolution of the L.A. Compact Connection newsletter that reflects the expansion of our work rooted in the L.A. Compact. What began as a bold commitment to address LAUSD’s dropout crisis and strengthen pathways between K-12 schools and careers has evolved to grow into a powerful catalyst for collective action towards systems change.

Guided by five goals supporting school readiness, high school graduation, postsecondary attainment, career success, and social and emotional well-being, the L.A. Compact has advanced numerous initiatives over the years inclusive of K-12 educator training; financial aid and dual enrollment; free two-year college; remedial education reform; reverse and traditional transfer; digital equity; career readiness for transition-age foster youth; student-centered community schools; and more. Today, UNITE-LA is doubling down on our commitment to systems change that focuses on shifting the underlying conditions that hold inequitable outcomes in place for young people in the L.A. region.

UNITE-LA conducted empathy interviews with LAUSD community school coordinators (CSCs) and principals to better understand their experiences, culminating in a comprehensive 100-page report in 2024 that highlighted key themes and recommendations. Since then, a subcommittee of the Community Schools Steering Committee (CSSC) has been working actively to refine and implement select recommendations to strengthen and advocate for the Community Schools Initiative (CSI).

In partnership with LAUNCH LA and the Southern California Apprenticeship Network, UNITE-LA led a four-part webinar series on apprenticeships. The webinars were designed to support small nonprofit organizations looking to engage in apprenticeships by providing them with necessary resources and tools.

UNITE-LA is proud to have contributed to the development of the Dual Enrollment Toolkit, a resource designed to help high school students and families—particularly those historically underrepresented—understand and access dual enrollment opportunities across L.A. County.