March 12, 2026

Dear Educator,

This week, we gathered for our monthly Community of Practice (CoP) with leaders across our California Secondary School Redesign network. The learning across the group was energizing! School leaders reflected on their strengths and opportunities along six dimensions using our redesign diagnostic. grounding the conversation in their unique contexts and goals.

The diagnostic helps ground the school redesign conversation in each community's unique context and goals. Give it a go yourself to see what you learn!

In this week's Bright Spots, I want to share some of the insights surfaced from our CoP conversation and three School Redesign models that were shared.

With Gratitude,

3 Inspiring School Redesign Models

There are many on-ramps to School Redesign. Across three breakout rooms, leaders shared how they are approaching change at different stages of their journeys. It was powerful to see leaders from 12 districts openly exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another.

By the end of the 90-minute session, school leaders learned about three redesign models:

• Bostonia Global shared how their new school design is anchored in a competency-based assessment model.
• Vista High School described how they are leveraging flex periods to help students better know themselves, explore career pathways, and chart their own learning journeys.
• Hidden Valley Middle School shared how launching a microschool is allowing them to test new teaming structures that help learners feel seen and known while giving teachers more opportunities to collaborate around student needs.

As one leader shared, “I used to think school redesign was impossible, and now I think it's achievable.” Across these different contexts, there are different strategies, but there is one shared commitment to reimagining what secondary school can be.

Are you ready to reimagine what school could be in your community? At Learner-Centered Collaborative, we partner with schools and districts to reimagine the future of public education. From co-creating a community vision through our Framework for the Future process, to co-designing and scaling School Redesign efforts, to developing educator capacity through purposeful professional development, we take a holistic approach to learner-centered change. Reach out to our team here to learn more.

This Playbook draws on Learner-Centered Collaborative’s work with schools and districts nationwide, highlighting communities that have redesigned school and learning in ways that reflect their unique contexts and aspirations. Explore the playbook here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 The What, Why, and How of Learning Walks. "Learning Walks moved my thinking from abstract to concrete by witnessing the Learning Model in action. I would love to do more." Plan your next Learning Walk.

🗣️ Classroom Strategy: Connect Learners to Mentors. "While your school might not yet have a formal internship or mentorship program, there are still many ways to ensure learners get connected with local community members and with work-based learning experiences." See examples here.

🎥 Online Course: The Learner-Centered Launchpad. "Explore why learner-centered education is needed now and how to begin the shift by rethinking your role as an educator and how you design the learning environment and community in your classroom." Start learning here.