Los Angeles Leadership Academy Educational Program

Overview

Los Angeles Leadership’ Academy's educational program reflects the three strands of its mission:

INTELLECTUAL, to prepare students to succeed in college and on their chosen career paths;

PERSONAL, to promote students' healthy personal development in an environment that prioritizes strong relationships and active participation in school and community life; and

CIVIC, to build a cadre of young leaders taking action to advance their visions for a just and humane world.

 

Middle School (grades 6-8)

At the middle school, students take Math, Physical Education, Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop, Social Studies/Community Action, and ELD or Spanish. Students also take Typing, Art or Spanish, depending on their grade level.

High School (grades 9-11)

Students are in advisories of 16-17 students. Advisors facilitate Individual Project, though teachers of core disciplines present mini-lessons, consult on individual projects, and facilitate group projects in their areas. In addition to Individual and Group project time, students take math, ELD or Spanish, Physical Education and an arts class. This year, students have the option to take visual arts, dance, theater, or photography at City Hearts’ downtown studio once a week. The school day opens with a reading, discussion of a current event, a mini-lesson, or a related writing assignment.

Individual Project. In creating the high school program, a priority was placed on developing a passion for learning and for equipping students to realize their visions for their lives and their world. To that end, Los Angeles Leadership Academy’s high school uses student-directed project-based learning as the core of its program. This endeavor was supported through a grant administered through EdVisions, Inc. and funded by the Bill and Gates Foundation.

How do students meet the state content standards through this format? They are given the school’s graduation requirements, which will be organized to meet University of California admissions requirements. As their projects demonstrate mastery of the content standards, the requirements are checked off. Students are also encouraged to encourage their interests through projects.

How is project-based learning made rigorous? Structure is provided through Project Proposal Forms that guide students through the project process, students’ daily planning process, and through the Project Evaluation Rubric. Mini-lessons build skills in research methods, reading and writing in non-fiction genres, and conventions of report writing.