The Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) has transformed how they define success for their students, with a strong emphasis on developing socially aware, civic-minded students who are college, career, and life ready. They have de-centered standardized assessments, shifting to emphasize adaptive and technical skills. To facilitate that shift, their graduate profile (5Cs) is the driver for change. It is both aspirational and actionable.
Overview
Over the course of nearly a decade, AUHSD has undertaken a transformative journey, redefining student success and then shaping a reimagined and comprehensive educational system that fosters newly prioritized outcomes for young people. This system not only prioritizes academic achievement but also places a strong emphasis on nurturing soft and hard skills, fostering student voice and purpose, and encouraging civic participation through teacher-developed performance task assessments (PTAs). In partnership with UC Irvine’s Design and Partnership Lab (Daplab) and eKadence, a non-profit ed tech organization, AUHSD is leveraging technology to support student self-reflection and track student progress towards the criteria set in the Career Preparedness Systems Framework (CPSF).
Figure 1: The Career Preparedness Systems Framework
Starting with the End in Mind
“The purpose of education is to allow me to become me, within the context of the society in which I exist, so that I can contribute meaningfully to that society.”
- Peter Senge
AUHSD embraces this Senge quote with its motto “Unlimited You”. They developed the CPSF to operationally define what a graduate should know and be able to do, not just to graduate, but to participate meaningfully in society. As seen in Figure 1., the CPSF comprises three key areas: Youth Voice & Purpose, Technical Skills, and 21st Century Skill. Technical skills are also known as hard skills, while 21st Century Skills are soft skills, comprised of AUHSD’s 5 C’s:
Critical Thinking involves students engaging in complex problem-solving, analyzing and synthesizing information, and making reasoned judgments. The progression starts with understanding basic concepts, moves through applying logic and reasoning, and culminates in the ability to evaluate and analyze complex issues.
Creativity encourages students to express original ideas, think outside the box, and innovate. Early stages focus on exploring and experimenting with new ideas, advancing through developing unique solutions to problems, and ultimately, creating and sharing original works or concepts.
Communication encompasses effective expression, both verbally and non-verbally, across various contexts and audiences. Students begin by learning basic communication skills, advance through effective storytelling and argumentation, and achieve the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
Collaboration highlights the importance of working effectively within teams, valuing diverse perspectives, and achieving common goals. The learning progression includes developing interpersonal skills, engaging in cooperative problem-solving, and leading collaborative efforts with empathy and respect.
Character & Compassion focus on fostering empathy, ethical behavior, and a sense of global citizenship. Students start by recognizing and respecting differences, move towards understanding and addressing the needs of others, and evolve into advocates for social justice and ethical solutions.
AUHSD's learning progressions for the 5 C's are designed to build upon each other, allowing students to develop a comprehensive skill set that prepares them for academic success, career readiness, and meaningful participation in society. Recently, students created a student version of the 5C descriptors and progressions.
Empowering Students and Teachers through Performance Task Assessments
Within the innovative educational landscape of AUHSD, student reflections and Performance Task Assessments (PTAs) stand as cornerstone practices. AUHSD sets clear expectations for its educators to develop and deliver PTAs that are deeply integrated with the curriculum, challenging students to apply their learning in real-world scenarios while reflecting on their experiences and growth in the 5Cs. To support teachers in this complex endeavor, AUHSD offers a robust framework of professional development opportunities, including workshops, collaborative planning sessions, and access to a repository of resources and best practices. Through this comprehensive support system, AUHSD’s 5C coaches (one at each school site) empower its educators to not only meet but exceed the expectations of delivering high-quality, transformative learning experiences that prepare students for success beyond the classroom.
AUHSD students and staff share about the power of Student Voice and Purpose
Leveraging Technology
Shifting to assessment through reflection and PTA is not without challenges. The CPSF is multifaceted and, as the term framework suggests, flexible enough to allow for personalization for students and adaptation by teachers and schools. But if what the CPSF can “look like” can vary, how does the district ensure that students meet common expectations?
To address this complex task, AUHSD employs generative artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics to offer a holistic view of student learning and development in real-time. With user-driven innovation from the tech nonprofit eKadence, they have created a learning platform to enable educators to monitor daily student progress across the critical competencies of the CPSF, including the 5Cs. Partnering with the DapLab, they're leveraging AI to analyze student reflections providing nuanced insights into each student's journey. By harnessing these technologies, AUHSD not only streamlines the assessment process but also enriches the educational experience by offering personalized feedback and targeted support, thereby building student agency and preparing them for success in the rapidly evolving digital world.
Impact and Lessons Learned
The school board, union, local employers, nearby colleges and universities, and other community partners all support the shifts that the district has pursued over the past decade. Why? Because the results are clear:
The high-stakes capstone interviews for 8th and 12th graders show that students have a clear sense of purpose and can demonstrate their soft skills.
In 2021-22, chronic absenteeism was 7.6% lower than the state average.
In 2022, AUHSD students had a 47% higher admission rate to UC Irvine than non-AUHSD students.
AUHSD led the state in percentage of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy (21.3%) and Seal of Civic Engagement (61.4%).
AUHSD's Oxford Academy was ranked #1 high school in California by US News and World Report
What lessons can we learn from the path that AUHSD has taken?
It pays off to center students, listen to their voices, and align their education to their unique purpose, interests, aspirations and needs for the future.
Innovative approaches exist and can be leveraged to move beyond the “pedagogy of compliance” that often doesn’t meet the needs of students, particularly those on the margins.
Visionary and bold leadership is necessary to disrupt ineffective systems, shift mindsets, and enable schools to look and feel different for students and teachers.
Learn More About AUHSD's Partners
Chan Zuckerberg Foundation The foundation's mission is "to build a more inclusive, just, and healthy future for everyone." They've provided funding support for AUHSD's efforts.
Daplab UC Irvine's center has partnered with AUHDS to "help students develop more holistic learning experiences, support student agency, and develop a deeper understanding of how what they are learning in school connects to issues they care about in their lives."
eKadence, developer of AUHSD's LMS, is "on a mission to help educators unlock true student potential and to empower students to find their purpose — because purpose is a powerful thing."
Learn more and access resources:
The Career Preparedness Systems Framework (CPSF) Learn more about AUHSD's framework on their district website.
The 5 Cs Check out the progressions and descriptors for AUHSD's 5 Cs.
Collection of Artifacts AUHSD curated this list of resources and artifacts to support further exploration and understanding of the CPSF.
Meet the Team
Michael Matsuda
Superintendent
Dr. Jason Fried
Assistant Superintendent
Amanda Bean
Director
Amy Kwon
Director
Diana Fujimoto
Coordinator