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).

A three-part venn diagram - the top circle is Youth Voice & Purpose, the bottom left is 21st Century Skills, and the bottom right is Technical Skills. The middle portion where all three overlap is labeled Student

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:

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: 

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?

Learn More About AUHSD's Partners 

Learn more and access resources:

Meet the Team

Michael Matsuda

Superintendent

Dr. Jason Fried

Assistant Superintendent

Amanda Bean

Director

Amy Kwon

Director

Diana Fujimoto

Coordinator