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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Los Angeles County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Make Invsetments that Transform Lives
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 13 findings
F1
California Assembly Bill AB790 recognized a need for innovative approaches to educational transformation. The Bill seeks innovation to lead to successful outcomes for our students, families, communities, and local and state economies. The Bill also recognizes that economic growth is dependent upon a career-ready workforce, and the need to improve graduation rates, close achievement and opportunity gaps, and prepare students for living- wage careers and/or a variety of postsecondary learning experiences. The Los Angeles County Strategic Plan for Economic Development (2016-2020) outlines objectives to achieve such innovation.
F2
The Los Angeles County Strategic Plan for Economic Development (2016-2020) calls for the identification of models of high-quality, collaborative, inclusive, engaging, and innovative schools. It also envisions extension of best practices throughout all districts and schools.
F3
The LBUSD Career Pathways and UCLA Community School programs have enhanced academic training with elements of vocational training and integrated real-world experience through internships and mentoring. The City of Long Beach fully supports The Promise and covers the first year of tuition at Long Beach City College. The UCLA Community School provides UCLA students attending the School of Education with the opportunity to practice new techniques and methods of delivering instruction. These educational programs focus on student “choice” in order to spark each child’s interest and curiosity, and challenge them to grow, learn, and thrive. 48 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT
F4
On January 11, 2017, the California State Board of Education approved implementation of the California School Dashboard24 (Dashboard) starting in the 2017-18 school year. This Dashboard is intended to improve accountability within the educational system. The Dashboard consists of a color-coded five-by-five grid intended to assist in identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas in need of improvement. These state level indicators are based on factors that contribute to a quality education, including high school graduation rates, college/career readiness, student test scores, English learner progress, suspension rates, and absenteeism. One subject matter expert expressed a desire to see this tool used like a Consumer Report. The color coded layout can “highlight the good,” and inform administrators, teachers, and parents where improvement is needed.
F5
The Dashboard includes local indicators for use by local districts.
F6
Educators are professionals dedicated to the classroom and to their students. They are also stakeholders who should have a voice and participate in development of local curricula and instructional methods. To attract and retain the best talent, educators need: Career development; Peer-to-peer collaboration; and Professional internships with community and industry partners to gain practical knowledge that will enrich and enable them to deliver a deeper level of instruction.
F7
The neighborhood school is an institution which acts as an “anchor of society,” and provides the opportunity to integrate parents into the educational process. It should also reach out to local organizations for mentoring and internship opportunities to enrich the learning process and better enable every child to learn and become an engaged and productive member of society. Localization can lead to a better tailoring of curricula based on community priorities and unique needs of students including those who have challenging family and social circumstances. In coordination with local economic development commissions, there could be better alignment between business development and educational/career development.
F8
While student test scores are an important measure of performance, they do not fully portray a teacher’s level of success or the development of a student’s growth mindset. Factors of teacher effectiveness that are not currently measured include:25 Developing a thirst for knowledge; developing good study habits; achieving high scores in subjects of interest; imparting a tenacity to enroll in and complete a post-secondary education; and imparting a social consciousness and a desire to participate in community affairs. California Dept of Education News Release #17‐5, January 11, 2017, [Online] Available: http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr17/yr17rel05.asp 25 Tracking Indicators of Graduation and Postsecondary Readiness, Ali Korkmaz, Long Beach Unified School District, California, Alison Gros, St. Bernard Parish Public Schools, Louisiana, Mary Lumetta, St. Bernard Parish Public Schools, Louisiana, Ashley Pierson, Education Northwest, Portland, Oregon, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, not dated, sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/files/cepr‐sdp/files/tracking_ccr_indicators.pdf 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 49
F9
Parent engagement is a critical element in tailoring local curricula and instructional methods. Parents need to be actively engaged: informing themselves of school activities; becoming involved at school; and participating in the decision-making process to improve the learning environment
F10
There is inequity within the educational system with respect to student experiences. For instance, fourth graders take California History. Yet, only a small percentage of schools will take their 4th graders to one of the California Missions to experience that part of our history. Replicating this best practice can have a profound impact on a young child.
F11
Implementing change within the educational system necessitates some degree of flexibility and adaptability. Requirements within the Education Code and other education Acts may present a barrier to traditional public schools taking full advantage of some of the current successes of the programs discussed in this report. Strong leadership and full engagement of all stakeholders (administrators, educators, politicians, unions, local business, parents, and students) is needed to implement change to the current operations and culture. More than one interviewee indicated that transformational change in the educational model may require substantial political and civil will.
F12
The Department of Consumer & Business Affairs has a program titled Life Smarts, which is a program designed to teach high school consumer skills. The program focuses on five key topic areas; consumer rights and responsibilities, technology, health and safety, personal finance, and the environment.
F13
Proposition 51 was approved by the California voters in November 2016 and it makes available $9 billion in bonds; $3 billion for the construction of new school facilities, $500 million for providing school facilities for charter schools, $3 billion for the modernization of school facilities, $500 million for providing facilities for career technical education programs, and $2 billion for acquiring, constructing, renovating, and equipping community college facilities. V
Recommendations 11
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R1Page 57The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors should formally identify the Los Angeles County Office of Education as the lead organization responsible to implement and maintain the California School Dashboard within the County.
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R2Page 57The Los Angeles County Office of Education should form a task force to focus on the local indicators to include within the Dashboard. This task force should include representatives from those Unified School Districts (USD’s) known to be implementing leading edge programs and those with exceptional student performance, local educational experts knowledgeable in state and County operations, and educational advocates who are knowledgeable and focused on open communications. 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 49
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R3Page 57The Los Angeles County Office of Education should develop an ‘Experience Map’ that identifies recommended types of engagement activity, and include performance in the local indicators. For example, all 4th graders study California history. A school would obtain a top rating for 4th grade history if they visit a California mission.
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R4Page 57The Los Angeles County Office of Education should actively monitor the Dashboard with the following goals; inform USD’s, educators, and parents of best practices within the County, and implement a community of practice to share successes. This forum should promote the exchange of information and practices and enable each USD to determine those best practices which can be brought into their own district to improve student learning.
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R5Page 57The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors should aid teachers in acquiring real-world experiences by instructing all County departments to make a certain number of compensated internships (summer position or long-term sabbatical) available to teachers within the County. For example: Department of Public Health could offer positions associated with environmental science; Department of Child and Family Services could offer positions associated with sociology and psychology; and Department of Public Works could offer positions in engineering.
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R6Page 57The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors should provide teachers working within the County free access to all County museums to encourage their attendance and enable them to share their experiences with their students, and/or help them arrange potential field trips.
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R7Page 57The Los Angeles County Office of Education should foster collaborative relationships with industry partners and County agencies to encourage establishment of internships for students and teachers and announce openings on their website or publish links.
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R8Page 57The Los Angeles County Office of Education should, in coordination with the Department of Consumer & Business Affairs, inform the USD’s about Life Smarts program and encourage them to bring the course to their campuses. This is a course that could be offered either after school, on the weekends, or during the summer break.
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R9Page 57The Los Angeles County Office of Education should investigate the establishment of a formal community of volunteers who could provide life-skills education (including teaching the Life Smarts program) and mentoring of students, similar to the services offered to small businesses by the Service Corps of Retired Executives.
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R10Page 58The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors should request a prioritized listing of projects under the five categories of funding available under Proposition 51 from the USD’s, with new facilities or any modifications or upgrades focused on enhancing learning.
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R11Page 58The Los Angeles County Office of Education should identify various ways to monetize school property to support implementation of changes as described in this report. For example, renting out parking lots and play fields for events like farmers markets or renting auditoriums for local events. Revenues from these rental activities should be specifically earmarked for implementing educational improvement projects. 50 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT VI REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Such responses shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the Civil Grand Jury publishes its report (files it with the Clerk of the Court). Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05 (a) and (b). All responses to the recommendations of the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury must be submitted on or before September 30, 2017, to: Presiding Judge Los Angeles County Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Eleventh Floor – Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Responses are required from: Responding Agency Recommendations County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors 4.1, 4.5, 4.6, 4.10 Los Angeles County Office of Education 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.11 VII ACRONYMS CGJ 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury CSULB California State University, Long Beach LBCC Long Beach City College LBUSD Long Beach Unified School District UCLA University of California, Los Angeles USD Unified School District VIII COMMITTEE MEMBERS Gloria Garfinkel Co-Chair Thomas Kearney Co-Chair Hilda Dallal Marilyn Gelfand 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 51 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 52 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT POLLING PLACE HOST FACILITIES Alice Beener Chair Dorothy Brown Patrick Lyons POLLING PLACE HOST FACILITIES I SUMMARY Polling place facilities help our neighborhoods; businesses and residences that host a polling place provide a very valuable service to our communities. Members of the 2016-2017 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) discovered polling place hosts earn $25.00 for the use of their home or business; this amount has not increased in over 30 years. II BACKGROUND To volunteer your residence or business as a polling place the facility must have: A minimum square footage of 400 square feet (20 feet x 20 feet) Sufficient parking Access ramps and handicap parking An enclosed area with adequate lighting and heating One to two tables with four to six chairs An electric outlet for the Precinct Ballot Reader A location available between the hours of 6:00 am to 9:30 pm Each facility must also provide heating, electricity, and restroom facilities for poll workers.1 On February 23, 2017 two CGJ members went to the office of the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (the Registrar) and met with staff responsible for supervising poll workers. The staff did extensive research of Los Angeles County ordinances and state statutes. They could not find any documentation relevant to required payments to polling place hosts. On October 24, 2006 the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) reviewed and approved the CGJ’s October 17, 2006 request to increase the daily stipend for both Civil and Criminal Grand Juries. In addition to supporting the stipend increase, the CAO also acknowledged the need to undertake a systemic review of all the County’s stipend-based organizations. This was done to ensure that an effective process is in place to address future requests for adjustments to the amount or frequency of stipends. 2 1 http://lavote.net/home/voting-elections/pollworker/polling-place-information 2 County of Los Angeles Chief Administrative Office memo, Approval of Ordinance Change Authorizing Increase to Civil and Criminal Grand Jury Daily Reimbursement Allowance, dated January 30, 2007 2016-2017 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 53 III METHODOLOGY Two Civil Grand Jury members conducted a telephone interview with a staff member at the Registrar’s office. On February 23, 2017 two Civil Grand Jury members went to the Registrar’s office in Norwalk. On April 21, 2017 VGJ members had a telephone interview with upper management of the San Francisco Department of Elections. IV FINDINGS