2025-2026 School Year
SoCal LiNK
Southern California Learning in Networked Knowledge
An interactive playbook featuring 10 districts, schools, and educational organizations working to capture, communicate, and catalyze learning as part of their journey toward learner-centered transformation.
About SoCal LiNK
The Southern California Learning in Networked Knowledge (SoCal LiNK) initiative leverages the power of collaboration between Learner-Centered Collaborative, UC San Diego, and Southern California school systems to accelerate learner-centered education and build a model for regional impact.
Similar to Networked Improvement Communities, participants come together quarterly to co-design practices and exchange evidence-informed ideas to address core educational challenges such as student well-being, family engagement, and competency-based assessment.
Our third year of work began in the fall with the primary goal of creating a regional toolkit for capturing, communicating, and catalyzing learning. Learner-Centered Collaborative's Competency-Based Reporting Playbook is serving as a core source of inspiration.
What This Playbook Contains
- Individual organization narratives, videos, and real-world tools and resourcesView All Organizations
- Examples of capturing, communicating, and catalyzing learning
- Research-informed frameworks from the SoCal LiNK Research-Practice PartnershipView SoCal LiNK RPP
Featured Organizations
Explore the transformative work of each district, school, and organization in our network.
Bonsall Unified
Student Belonging
e3 Civic High
Actualizing Vision
Guajome Park Academy
Backwards UbD Design
Laguna Beach Unified
Dashboards for Belonging
High Tech High
Demystifying ELPAC
San Marcos Unified
Language Learning
Sweetwater Union
Whole Child, Whole District
National School District
Aligning Leaders
Blue Dot
Community Learning
Center for Love & Justice
Systems Change
Three Essential Questions
The work is focused on answering three essential questions that drive learner-centered transformation.
Learner-Centered Ecosystems
During the 2025-2026 SoCal LiNK experience, participants learned about new research from Fine, Rincón-Gallardo, and Fullan that identifies four key elements of successful learner-centered transformation. These elements are both deeply embedded in Learner-Centered Collaborative's ecosystem approach and evident in the work of SoCal LiNK participants this year.
Shared Vision
Defines the ecosystem's purpose
Defines the ecosystem's purpose through whole-learner outcomes and a clear north star
Systemness
Aligns the ecosystem's parts
Aligns the ecosystem's parts through coherence, commitment, and interconnected strategies
Symmetry
Aligns experiences within
Aligns experiences within the ecosystem so everyone experiences the transformation
Steady Work
Sustains over time
Sustains the ecosystem over time through ongoing nurturing and adaptation
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