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Teamwork is Key to Higher Student Achievement HOW DOES ONE IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES? TEAMWORK. This is one of the messages that 200 teachers, administrators, support staff, and students received during a two-day Instructional Transformation Team training workshop recently conducted by the Los Angeles Educational Partnership's Learning Community Program (LCP). During the training, educators and community members from 21 new Phase V LEARN schools took an important step toward creating "learning communities," through discussions, audio-visual presentations, and hands-on exercises designed to create improvement in student achievement. The LCP training helps school teams learn to work collaboratively to assess their schools' educational program, analyze current student performance, and plan for the transformation of student achievement. During the training, the teams also work to improve student assessment techniques and classroom practices, plan for the integration of health and social services, and develop supportive strategies for professional growth. "This training will help our school understand its role in the change process," said Gina Ametu, a teacher at Sylmar High School attending her second training workshop. "Working together is the key for effective change." In addition, the Learning Community Program training helps participants clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Instructional Transformation Team and assists them with tools for meeting management, consensus, school self assessment, and team building. To assist the schools in their efforts to develop learning communities, each is matched with a School Change Consultant. On site at the schools several times a month as a neutral outsider who can ask important questions, consultants form supportive relationships with their assigned schools. Schools on the other hand, look to their consultants for help in identifying resources and assistance in building meaningful educational change. "Hopefully, the Instructional Transformation Team members will walk out of the training knowing that they are not alone in the process and with a sense of direction and momentum to transform our schools," said LCP Program Director Carole Clarke. "Their challenge is a difficult one, but we think the Learning Community Program can help them develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed." During the second day of the training, teams began to work on establishing high standards for student achievement that included developing school-site action plans centered on improving student learning. Teams also met in clusters to discuss and share information. "Parents play an important role in the (ITT training)," said Angelica Rojas, a parent whose children attend Sylmar High School. "Anything we can do to make our schools better is always a good thing." The Learning Community Program was developed in close cooperation with the Los Angeles Unified School District , United Teachers Los Angeles, UCLA, and other members of the LEARN Working Group.