LAEP, Other Reform Groups to Explore Closer Alliance

School Reform Movement Has Bright Future By Peggy Funkhouser President LA Educational Partnership MIKE ROOS HAS MADE AN INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION to education reform in Los Angeles. Under his leadership LEARN has established a vision and framework for schools to participate in reform and hundreds of schools have joined the movement. Mike deserves our thanks and best wishes as he moves on to new challenges. As Mike moves on though I think it is very important to point out that education reform in Los Angeles is broader and deeper than one person or one organization. Today real reforms are being carried out by teachers and administrators at hundreds of schools in Los Angeles and pushed for and supported by a wide range of community members and organizations. Teachers are working to improve classroom instruction, schools are planning for and working towards comprehensive reform and communities and schools are working together to address the health and social service needs of students and their families. While significant challenges lie ahead, there is much to be excited about. As the president of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership (LAEP), I want to assure teachers and schools of our continued support of their efforts. With or without Mike at the helm of LEARN, LAEP, LEARN/LAAMP and others are going to continue to support your efforts to improve the quality of public education for the children of Los Angeles. What is needed now is for educators and community members to work together in a collaborative fashion to move the reform agenda forward and to provide the reformers within our schools with the incentives, support and resources they need to improve student learning and achievement. The Los Angeles Educational Partnership is committed to that effort. Since 1984, the Los Angeles Educational Partnership (LAEP) has been a force for the development of excellence in education in Los Angeles and has worked to create informed public support for public schools. LAEP activities are focused in the classrooms, at school sites, and in communities and range from the provision of support and training for teachers to complex initiatives that engage schools and communities in comprehensive educational reform. LAEP currently provides significant training and support for the LEARN Plan and the LAAMP Initiative and is leading the development and dissemination of the Urban Learning Centers, a nationally recognized model for comprehensive school reform. LAEP also maintains some of the nation's largest and most innovative teacher networks, and works with schools and communities to increase access to health and social services, training and other supports. We also provide educators with access to technology and the training to use it effectively in the classroom. To date, LAEP has invested more than $40 million in this effort and is committed to working with educators and community members to continue what we believe to be innovative and important work. We look forward to working with the reformers within our schools to achieve excellence in education in Los Angeles.