21CSLA State Center

21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA)

The California School Leadership Academy (CSLA) was first authorized by the state in 1983 and was operated by the California Department of Education until the program was discontinued due to budget cuts in 2002. In 2019, the state Legislature re-authorized 21CSLA and requested that educational institutions and agencies submit proposals to operate the statewide center, and seven regional academies.

The purpose of 21CSLA is to support educational leaders at school sites and systems in order to improve campus culture and climate, create more equitable learning environments, and ultimately boost student success.

With direct involvement from the faculty and flagship school leadership education programs at UC Berkeley and UCLA, as well as support from the California Subject Matter Projects (CSMP) administered by the UC Office of the President, the goal of the 21CSLA initiative is to provide high quality, equity centered professional learning for educational leaders of schools and districts in California that receive Title II funds. Programs will be at no cost to participants and will include leadership coaching as well as an emphasis on improving instruction and achievement outcomes (including through distance learning) for English Learners; students with disabilities; low income students; and other historically marginalized students.

At the broadest level, the statewide center will structure a collaborative partnership among the California Department of Education; California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE); State Board of Education; and the seven Regional Academies.

Each Regional Academy has a lead agency, as noted in the map below.

About the 21CSLA Statewide Center Partners

Leadership Programs of the UC Berkeley GSE. Since 1999, the Leadership Programs' flagship, the Principal Leadership Institute, has prepared more than 600 educational leaders for the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond with a focus on creating more equitable schools for vulnerable and historically underserved students. The Leadership Programs offer degrees for aspiring and early career administrators including a master’s degree; the Clear Administrative Services Credential through its Leadership Support Program; and a doctorate through Leaders for Equity and Democracy.

UCLA Center X (CX). Center X, a recognized leader in improving teaching and learning through high-quality, culturally responsive educator development, comprises the UCLA PLI, teacher education, and 14 equity-driven, content-focused professional learning (PL) projects including CSMP, Adaptive Schools, and coaching. Center X strives to challenge the status quo that perpetuates educational inequity and deficit-oriented practice, and believes this work is an enduring feature of our democracy and that it occurs within and across multiple communities – of teachers, students, parents, community members, elected officials, researchers and others engaged in democratic life.

California Subject Matter Project. CSMP works to improve teaching and learning by offering comprehensive, content-focused professional learning for educators and by sustaining collaborative networks. Administered by the UC Office of the President in concurrence with the California Department of Education, the State Board of Education, California State University, the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing and many other institutions, CSMP is an active provider within the CDE’s statewide system of support effort. In the last year, 25,000 educators from 1,256 school districts across California attended CSMP programming for improving instructional practice.