2 School Reform Groups Join Forces

Two of the largest school reform groups in Los Angeles have merged.

The Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project (LAAMP) and the Los Angeles Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now (LEARN) have combined to form the LAAMP/LEARN Regional School Reform Alliance.

“We’ve designed a new, unified structure to advance the central reform principles of our founding organizations: focusing on improved student achievement as our No. 1 goal,” said William Ouchi, co-chairman of the alliance.

“The best way to achieve that goal,” he said, “is through school-based, decentralized decision-making and increased community involvement in local schools.”

The alliance’s initial tasks will include helping the Los Angeles Unified School District create a clearer, more workable budget system that maximizes funding at local school sites.

Robin Kramer, the alliance’s interim president, said the reorganization is expected to intensify and accelerate LEARN reform efforts already underway at more than half of Los Angeles’ public schools.

LEARN is a nonprofit organization created in 1991 to promote a reform model that includes more school-based authority over budget and principal selection. Funded by Los Angeles business interests, LEARN aims to give greater voice to parents, teachers and principals.

The 5-year, $53-million LAAMP program, which was established to promote reform activities at Los Angeles County schools, is scheduled to phase out of operation within 18 months.

“The formation of this alliance will give new life to the programs started under the LAAMP umbrella during its five-year tenure,” Kramer said.

The alliance has launched a search for a permanent chief executive to work with its board, composed of community, academic, business, labor and civil rights leaders.