SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT MONICA GARCIA COMMENTS ON UTLA SUIT
News Release
For Immediate Release December 21, 2009
Contact: Gayle Pollard-Terry
(213) 241-6766 #09-10/107
SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT MÓNICA GARCÍA COMMENTS ON UTLA SUIT ENCOURAGES ALL ADULTS TO WORK TOGETHER PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE TIMELINE TO CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED
(LOS ANGELES)—Apprised of legal action by the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union targeting the new Public School Choice Initiative, Los Angeles School Board president Mónica García called for cooperation on reform intended to improve student achievement.
“We are facing a crisis in our classrooms and in our District. We need adults to work together for our students,” García said. “The status quo is not working for too many young people. That is why I am so excited about the Public School Choice Program.”
The Public School Choice program will allow new operating options for some of LAUSD’s lowest-performing schools, and up to 24 new campuses scheduled to open throughout the District in September 2010. More than 219 charter operators, teacher collaborative teams and other non-profit organizations have applied to bring reform to the targeted schools. No school will automatically become a charter or be run by outsiders because of this initiative. The goal is to determine what works best for each campus and its students.
Final applications are due in January 2010. After broad community input, applicants will be recommended on the basis of a proven track record of boosting academic achievement among students from a similar demographic. Other factors will include their detailed vision on how to improve an existing school that has been underperforming for years or helping a new school soar academically.
A vote is expected by the Los Angeles Board of Education in February 2010. For more information, please go to the ‘News and Events’ section at www.lausd.net.
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