Academy for Urban School Leadership
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The Academy for Urban School Leadership is a Chicago-based non-profit organization that partners with Chicago Public Schools to manage several chronically under-performing elementary and high schools.
AUSL's stated mission is to "turn around" Chicago's most underperforming schools by improving student performance and achievement through a disciplined transformation process that is built on a foundation of specially trained teachers.
[edit] History
AUSL was founded in 2001 by Martin J. Koldyke, a venture capitalist and founder of the Golden Apple Foundation. In founding AUSL, Koldyke engaged a group of business and community leaders to design a school management program built on the belief that well-prepared teachers are the key to transforming high-poverty, poorly-performing schools into places where students can succeed.
As of the 2010–11 school year, AUSL is managing 19 Chicago Public Schools (14 elementary schools and 5 high schools) with plans to add more schools to its network in coming years.
[edit] Urban Teacher Residency Program
The centerpiece of AUSL's efforts is the Urban Teacher Residency program, a one-year training curriculum that prepares new and experienced teachers to work in AUSL-managed schools. During their year of training, residents receive both classroom instruction and on-the-job training working as student teachers in AUSL schools, under the direction and supervision of coaches and mentors.
At the end of their training year, AUSL residents earn a Master's degree in Education or Teaching, from National Louis University, and receive a Chicago Public Schools teaching certificate. As a condition for entering the program, all residents must agree to teach in Chicago Public Schools for at least four years after they graduate.
