Introducing the LA’s BEST 2025-2030 Strategic Plan
Investing in the Whole Child: Uniting for Impact to Lead in Expanded Learning
LA’s BEST is stepping boldly into the next five years
LA’s BEST is stepping boldly into the next five years with a renewed commitment to children, families, and communities. Our new strategic plan charts a dynamic, forward-looking path grounded in what we have heard from our cherished employees, partners, and families from across Los Angeles. Centered on the whole child, this plan sharpens our focus, strengthens our partnerships, and expands our impact, so that every young person can learn, grow, and thrive.
Michele Broadnax, MBA
President & CEO, LA's BEST
What's Continuing
Programmatic:
- Delivering enriching expanded learning programs that give kids choice
and leadership opportunities - Focusing on attendance at 221 existing sites and expanding morning,
afternoon, and summer programs to serve the most LAUSD students - Being an advocacy leader in the expanded learning field locally,
statewide, and federally, including advocating for increased and more
flexible public funding for our field - Increasing our presence as thought leaders about expanded learning
Internal:
- Recruiting staff from the communities in which we run programs
- Developing staff talents & skills, through training and support, and
strengthening our career pipeline - Better understanding the long-term impacts of our current work through
evaluation
What's New
Programmatic:
- Increasing and formalizing parent engagement
- Leading the establishment of a place based initiative in LA
- Building new formal partnerships that support the variety of interconnected
needs families have (e.g., mental health, housing, food access) - Leading in cradle-to-career coalitions beyond the expanded learning field
- Engaging families and alums in our advocacy work
Internal:
- Formalizing norms and agreements between Ops and the Nonprofit to facilitate
seamless and joyful collaboration, and honing how and when to meet,
collaborate, reflect, and learn in ways that support cross-entity collaboration - Using insights from program data and evaluations to inform decision-making
and resource allocation - Refining a business model to sustain our vital work
- Clarifying and deepening our partnerships with City of LA and LAUSD
Our new strategic plan is guided by five key themes
Maximizing Program Attendance and Engagement
We will:
Make programs more accessible, engaging, and appealing through refreshed content and links to tangible real-world experiences.
Support and develop staff talents & skills to consistently deliver high quality.
Helping Families Meet Needs So Children Can Thrive
We will:
Increase intentional parent engagement.
Build partnerships that support the variety of interconnected needs families have (e.g., mental health, housing, food access) Lead the establishment of a place-based initiative.
Investing In Our Unique Central Partnerships
We will:
Deepen our partnerships with City of LA and LAUSD.
Developing norms and agreements to facilitate seamless and joyful collaboration between partners.
Refine our business model to sustain our vital work as the student population and financial position of the District and City evolve.
Leading A Drive for Sustainability In Our Field
We will:
Increase our presence as thought leaders in public conversations about expanded learning.
Advocate for increased and more flexible public funding for our field; while also seeking to diversify LA’s BEST’s funding sources.
Building Data Capability to Make Informed Decisions and Share Our Impact
We will:
Use insights from program data and evaluations to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Tell our stories of impact powerfully.
Whole City. Whole Child. Every Day.
Some things remain at the heart of LA’s BEST: our unwavering commitment to uniting the community around a shared vision, and ensuring every child has access to joyful, enriching, and life-changing learning opportunities. This Plan builds on this foundation, strengthening partnerships, expanding access, and elevating the impact we make together.
With our community by our side, we are forging a united path where every child is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Support Our Mission
LA’s BEST Expanded Learning Program plays a vital role in the lives of unique and talented elementary school students who attend over 200 LAUSD schools in neighborhoods with the fewest resources yet the greatest needs.