L.A. Compact adopts new goals, priorities, and values

In 2019, the L.A. Compact Stewardship Group finalized the first update to the collaborative’s foundational goals since the first signing in 2010. The new goals reflect a greater emphasis on attainment over access, as well as the important contributions that early childhood development and social and emotional skills make towards holistic student success. In 2020, partners will have an opportunity to commit to regional collaboration in support of five bold goals.

In 2019, the L.A. Compact Stewardship Group finalized the first update to the collaborative’s foundational goals since the first signing in 2010. The new goals reflect a greater emphasis on attainment over access, as well as the important contributions that early childhood development and social and emotional skills make towards holistic student success. In 2020, partners will have an opportunity to commit to regional collaboration in support of 5 bold goals.

1. All children are healthy and ready to succeed in school.
2. All students graduate from high school.
3. All students complete postsecondary education.
4. Students of all ages acquire skills and knowledge to achieve career success.
5. All children and young adults thrive socially and emotionally and contribute positively to the community.

To advance these goals, the Stewardship Group adopted 10 priority strategies that will be advanced by dozens of partners across nearly 20 cross-sector work groups and initiatives.

Finally, the Stewardship Group finalized a set of beliefs and values that will guide the L.A. Compact’s collective impact work in service of LA’s students moving forward. The L.A. Compact believes in:

• Advancing equity – structural and institutional racism and classism must be dismantled, resources must be allocated, and strategies must be targeted in a way that advances equity of opportunity and educational outcomes.
• Success for all – all children and youth, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, immigration status, and ability have the capacity to achieve at high levels and realize their unique potential if given the adequate supports and investments.
• Results through Collaboration – collaboration across institutions and systems is necessary to solve the complex, large-scale education and workforce development challenges facing our region; we are mutually responsible for the success of our children and young adults as they transition throughout the cradle-to-career continuum. 
• Building trust – collaboration moves at the speed of trust, requiring continuous communication, common ground, a mutual commitment to youth and families, and a culture of respect and support across signing institutions.
• Community-informed solutions – solutions should be informed by the lived experiences of individuals most impacted by policies, programs, and systems; their leadership and participation is integral to the implementation of identified solutions.
• Using data for continuous improvement – data must be shared and used regularly to promote learning, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility for the success of our children and youth.

Unfortunately one of these core values, building trust, was tested this year when several Compact signers were divided on a ballot initiative to raise revenue for L.A. Unified schools, resulting in six signers making the decision to withdraw from the L.A. Compact agreement. Despite this fissure, important work led by Compact partners continued to accelerate this year, proving that the L.A. Compact remains a space where cross-sector system leaders can find areas of common ground to work together in service of students.