2012 Policy Academy
Education Policy Academy
Los Angeles, CA
December 6-9, 2012
We are proud to share the success of our Education Policy Academy, held last week in Los Angeles, CA. Over 50 progressive young elected officials from 21 states gathered December 6-9 for a weekend of intensive discussion, policy analysis, and strategic planning.
YEOs had the opportunity to examine a number of approaches to education, and worked together to develop policies that address root causes and inequalities, and seek to implement truly systemic change. YEOs were able to connect with a variety of policy experts and practitioners in the education field, partnerships that we will continue to foster in our work going forward. We looked at holistic models of education and community services; blended learning environments that use technology to enhance the student experience; and ways to bring together teachers, students, families, and the community as a whole in the process of developing policy and implementing programs that improve both learning and student outcomes.
And this weekend is only the beginning. Each young elected official committed to developing their own Policy Action Plan, which details policy goals, strategies, and tactics to implement in their districts over the course of 12 months. While the Policy Academy captured a variety of perspectives on the state of education in our country, and a number of recommendations and best practices in navigating the path forward, ultimately each YEO will decide what steps will best serve his or her community’s needs. We look forward to working closely with our YEOs in the days and months to come, to building new partnerships, and to providing the tools and resources needed to transform vision into tangible policy action.