East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy of Urban Planning & Design
School Description
"ELARA is a Pilot School, an innovative model developed in a collaboration of LAUSD, UTLA, and the LA Small Schools Center. It is a result of LAUSD’s Public School Choice program, year one, and won its place at Torres in a public competition. The campus itself is the result of years of community activism, and ELARA’s proposal was developed in collaboration with a variety of community partners. It is one of only three high schools in the United States with an Urban Planning/Design focus."
Contact Information
Website: renaissance-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com
Principal: Jose Gonzalez- jgonz76@lausd.net
Additional ETA Contact: Martin Buchman-
Four-Year Plan Goals
Goal One: To establish ELARA as a demonstration site for master teaching and student learning in the Adobe Certification Program with the intention of becoming a testing center for students who graduate with multiple Adobe certifications.
Approach
Goal One: The approach to Goal One has largely been teacher training in Adobe Programs so that the art and technology teachers can teach the students and provide school-wide Professional Development.
Through ELARA's Creative Writing course, students will investigate place-making and the built environment in their community. Using writing and photography as well as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, students will learn to design and publish printed material (brochures, postcards, a magazine, photographs and maps) for the purpose of showcasing the landmarks and history of the East Los Angeles community.
ARTS PARTNERSHIPS
Goal Two: Public Matters, a non-profit dedicated to transforming urban spaces through research and design, worked with students at ELARA to create an East LA map of the stars; highlighting all the unique and wonderful treasures of East LA.
Sustainability Plan
Goal One: ELARA's sustainability is embedded in the the teacher training they invested in as collaborative teams through PDs and the codified curriculum they created.
Four-Year Plan will be completed in Spring of 2017.