AUSL was originally only comprised of training academies to prepare teachers to work in underperforming Chicago Public Schools. Residents would complete their residency training, and then be placed to teach—either alone or with one or two other graduates—in a high-need CPS School.

After two years, we re-focused our program to optimize the impact of our graduates. They are now usually hired in teams by schools with strong and visionary principal leadership. We accomplish this goal in two ways:

partner with CPS district to manage Turnaround Schools—the worst-performing schools in Chicago;

place our successful graduates in these schools, under the leadership of an AUSL-chosen principal.

This approach enables us to link the strengths of our teacher preparation program with the district’s redesign initiatives. The key benefits of this link are as follows.

AUSL graduates apply their training in a supportive, consistent AUSL school environment.

Turnaround Schools receive a core group of AUSL-trained teachers who form the nucleus of each school’s new faculty.

In early 2006, AUSL was awarded reform responsibility for The Sherman School of Excellence, Chicago’s first Turnaround School, which opened in fall 2006. Our second Turnaround School, The Harvard School of Excellence, opened in September 2007.

AUSL will continue to work in partnership with CPS to open additional Turnaround Schools and additional training academies.