State Board of Education Approves New Groundbreaking School Accountability System

By David Rattray

A recent editorial gave a critical review of the upcoming changes to the Los Angeles public school accountability system. I believe it is an unfair look at a very promising tool.

Instead of a single score number under the old system, the new model will use a variety of measures that rate overall school and district performance. Imagine your car’s dashboard – a clear indicator of all items that will make your car run smoothly and safely. Likewise, this dashboard for schools will allow individuals to see the complete picture of a school and make determinations based on what matters to them. 

UNITE-LA Applauds State & Local Assessment Scores Progress

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson, LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King and LAUSD School Board President Steve Zimmer for released the 2016 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, sharing gains in English literacy and math were made when compared to the previous year, but there is still much work to be done.

“We believe the test scores announced today are evidence that we are on the right course to build a strong workforce, but clearly more work is needed. As the leading business organization for the Los Angeles region, we know this future workforce must close the skills gap and keep up with the needs of our area’s employers,” said David Rattray, president, UNITE-LA & executive vice president, Education & Workforce Development, L.A. Area Chamber. “We also know that without an educated workforce, our economy suffers directly, and it is not just here in California – but in the U.S. and in the world. Our global competitiveness is tied to the preparedness of our workforce.”

New Ed Trust West website highlights Cash for College as a Promising Practice for financial aid completion.

This new website tracks college financial aid application rates for California schools and districts. It uses US DOE data to publicly report the percentage of 12th graders who completed FAFSA and Cal Grant applications, and highlights promising practices that schools, districts, and community partners can use to increase financial aid access.

Originally published By Phillip Zonkel, Long Beach Press Telegram

 With about 460,000 students in the CSU system, the number of those who have experienced homelessness, according to the study, totals about 46,000, and the number who worried about hunger totals about 105,800.

"The study’s estimates are based on 1,039 survey replies from 4,945 randomly selected students and more than 100 interviews with staff, faculty and administrators across the CSU system."

‘SUPER SATURDAY’ WORKSHOPS HELP HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID FORMS AND FIND ‘CASH FOR COLLEGE’

Over the coming weeks, L.A. Cash for College and its partners will host more than 150 workshops throughout the region to provide families the opportunity to meet with financial aid experts who will answer questions and guide them through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act applications.

UNITE-LA commends the LAUSD board of education on the collaborative spirit of the Superintendent selection process and we are delighted with its result.

The board conducted a thoughtful and exhaustive nationwide search, and we are confident that the selection of Michelle King represents their best judgment. She possesses the experience, talent and dedication needed to lead this district. We look forward to collaborating with King as we strive to ensure all students graduate from high school college-and-career-ready.

President Obama Signs the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

In an amazing way to end the year, President Obama signs the bipartisan bill, easily passed by the Senate and the House, replacing the No Child Left Behind legislation of 2002.

Testing element remains in replacement bill

The House has voted overwhelmingly to sharply scale back the federal role in American education.  But the legislation would retain the testing requirement in the 2002 No Child Left Behind law that many parents, teachers and school districts abhor.

U.S. News report

The Citi Foundation and America's Promise Alliance selected 12 nonprofit organizations as recipients of the Youth Opportunity Fund

"The future competitiveness of America's cities hinges on the positive economic outcomes of our young people," said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation. "We launched the Youth Opportunity Fund to support the innovative work of community partners who are helping low-income youth create the on-ramps that will lead towards career success."

"Partnerships, like those with the Citi Foundation and America's Promise Alliance with Youth Opportunity Fund organizations, will allow cities to connect even more of our most vulnerable young people to skills training, work experience and first-time paychecks," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "These opportunities will not only help put youth on a path to success but also benefit their families, our communities and our local economies."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, unveils a new Road Map for Education

A Blueprint for Great Schools Version 2.0 builds on the groundbreaking 2011 report A Blueprint for Great Schools, which helped usher in a new era in California schools that has included major increases in funding, more rigorous state academic standards, online student assessment testing, and greater support for the students and schools with the most needs. 

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