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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

Schools of the Future

Published: June 05, 2017 83 pages
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Findings 13 findings

F1 Page 60
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 Page 60
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 Page 60
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 Page 61
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 Page 61
The Dashboard includes local indicators for use by local districts.
F6 Page 61
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 Page 61
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 Page 61
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 Page 62
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 Page 62
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 Page 62
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 Page 62
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 Page 62
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