Advisory programs provide an opportunity to support the academic and social/emotional development of middle and high school students by assigning a teacher/staff advisor to every student. Advisors and a group of 18 to 24 advisees meet two or more times a week in advisory groups for academic support, group activities, college and career counseling and portfolio work. Advisors act as mentors to their students and are the liaison between school and family.

The Los Angeles Small Schools Center provides technical assistance to schools and small learning communities to support the design, implementation and ongoing support for advisory programs. LASSC executive director Jeanne Fauci is the lead author of The Advisory Toolkit, a 400-page workbook and accompanying DVD that guides schools in successful advisory design, implementation, curriculum and assessment.