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What Are State Learning First Alliance Affiliates?

The Learning First Alliance maintains a network of state-level alliances that roughly mirror the national Alliance. These alliances of major education associations within states put aside issues that divide their members and focus instead on shared goals for improving teaching and learning. They find common ground and develop common messages. They combine their resources and expand their capacity to support public education.

What Are the Benefits of Being an LFA State Affiliate?

Many of the challenges public schools face are very similar from one state to the next. To address such common challenges, state affiliates in LFA’s network have opportunities to share information and strategies with each other, and to receive assistance and resources from the national Alliance. LFA provides a number of supports to help states maintain and expand their affiliates.

We offer:

• Assistance in sustaining alliances;
• Regular opportunities for dialogue in which state leaders share successes, brainstorm solutions to problems, and learn about cutting-edge ideas on the national horizon;
• Access to people and resources at the national level;
• Greater visibility resulting from the national connection to and endorsement of collaborative work by the national LFA.

What are the Prerequisites to a Strong Alliance?

• Trust and respect. Potential alliance leaders must get to know each other, focus on what they have in common rather than on differences, and create strong operating norms for admitting members, holding meetings, coming to shared decisions, and treating one another with respect.
• A common purpose, and a common commitment to children, rather than to the narrower concerns of individual organizations. A shared opportunity or crisis can often create this sense of purpose.
• A focus on important work that affects the health of public education. Strong alliances don’t “win the battle but lose the war” in small policy squabbles.
• Necessary human resources. While a strong alliance does not necessarily require money to sustain it, alliance members must be willing to be generous with their time and attention. Strong alliances develop a clear plan to pool organizational, intellectual and human resources to meet shared goals.
• Champions who keep the focus. New alliances in particular need key leaders who maintain a focus on big goals without becoming distracted by difficulties that naturally arise when new groups come together. Champions need to coordinate member efforts so that the alliance can attain some early successes.

How do Alliances Sustain Capacity through Transitions in Leadership?

• Focus on the mission.
• Create a written plan for leadership succession.
• Create processes for orientation and mentoring of new members.
• Build trust between affiliate members.