School Transformations
The Los Angeles Parents Union will focus on helping parents union chapters and affiliates lead “school transformation” projects in which they collaborate with LAUSD and key stakeholders to transform their local large, failing schools into clusters of small, safe schools that embody the “Six Tenets of high performing schools.” Successful school transformations provide LAUSD with a model that can be used to improve all of its failing schools. Transformations will also help rally parents, community members and stakeholders behind a tangible reform goal for neighborhood schools.

Large-Scale Parent Education Campaign
LAPU will lead a campaign to educate parents on the
importance of the parent’s three R’s--their rights as parents,
resources for parents and the red tape (i.e. the school district system, bureaucracy, power structure etc.) in order to improve their local neighborhood schools. Dubbed the “Parents University,” parents and community organizers lead a series of workshops and forums including Community Organizing 101, an overview on the state of education, and
how to transform a school.

Parent Sponsored/Supported Litigation and Legislation
The California Constitution states that all students have a constitutional right to an equitable education under the equal protection clause. The federal government has echoed this sentiment through programs such as No Child Left Behind. LAPU will work to ensure that the local school district and state and federal government enforce these laws through parent advocacy and public-interest litigation. The Parents Union will also aggressively support legislative efforts to increase parent involvement in schools and to create safe, small schools for all students.

Parent Campaign
The Los Angeles Parents Union will seek to increase membership and build parent support through the creation of active parent chapters and affiliates throughout Los Angeles. The Central Office of LAPU will provide resources, support staff (e.g. community organizers), trainings and materials to aid individual chapters.

Affiliates Program
In order to maximize parent support throughout Los Angeles, LAPU has an Affiliate Program. Affiliates are already active parent organizations that agree with and are aligned with the mission of the Los Angeles Parents Union and work for the transformation and improvement of their local public schools. In return for their support of LAPU’s mission, the Los Angeles Parents Union will leverage their resources like the Parent University and other tools to help groups advance in their target areas.