A – G: FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL

AALA Update: Week of May 28, 2012 | http://bit.ly/KGKBZV

 

The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) represents Middle Managers in the Los Angeles Unified School District. This year, AALA broadened its scope to now represent classified Middle Managers, as well as certificated administrators.

25 May 2012 :: Now that the LAUSD Board of Education has passed the motion requiring that all students (starting with the freshman class of 2012-2013) pass a mandatory A-G college preparatory curriculum in order to receive a high school diploma, have Board Members really given any thought as to what happens next?

While this is certainly an ambitious and laudable goal, it is going to take much more than the strike of President Mónica García’s gavel or a tweet from Superintendent Deasy to make it successful.

AALA sent a letter to Board Members prior to the vote which asked that they delay action on the motion to allow for proper planning and funding. Successful implementation of the A-G vision requires solid processes, procedures, budgets, strategies and supports. However, the Board majority ignored AALA’s recommendation and passed the motion with none of this in place.

Those who deal with students and parents on a daily basis were bewildered by the lack of forethought as to the implementation of this requirement and the impact it will have on the local school site. The elephant in the room which LAUSD Board Members refuse to acknowledge is carrying a sign asking basic questions, ―Where is the budget? How can this be done when resources are being reduced?‖ The first page article of Update on May 14 was titled ―A-G Requirement: An End with Limited Means.‖ With the release of the Governor’s May Budget Revision, we could change that title to ―An End with No Means.‖ Tantamount to the budget issue is the lack of identified support for students and staff as they embark on this journey.

The Daily Breeze newspaper published an editorial (brought to our attention by former Superintendent William Johnston) with the heading Higher bar may leave many behind—too few can meet current LAUSD standards (May 20, 2012), in which the wisdom of this new requirement is questioned. The editorial points out that in the class of 2011 only 21% of the students received a D or higher in A-G courses. Has any thought been given to these questions, ―How many students will the District lose due to the A-G mandate? What academic supports and interventions are in place to insure that the drop-out rate does not increase? What professional development is planned for administrators and teachers? Where are the funds needed to expand the curriculum and the facilities to include all students in the more rigorous classes?‖

Aside from the major issue of funding, additional issues must be addressed and included in a successful implementation plan:

• Mechanisms to insure all students are ready for the A-G curriculum when they reach the 9th grade
• Adequate counseling and guidance support for students
• ·Summer school and adult school opportunities to make up classes or take electives
• Support for English Learners
• Accommodations for individuals with disabilities
• Provision of auxiliary hours to those high schools that need assistance in providing enough sections of the appropriate courses
• Potential loss of teachers and administrators due to the reduction in credits required for graduation
• Cross level professional development, coaching and mentoring between middle and high school teachers
• Scheduled intervals for evaluation of student progress
• Career options for students who choose not to go to college (everyone cannot be admitted nor is able to afford the tuition and related costs)
• Strengthening LAUSD relationships with community colleges
• Career/vocational training
• Recruiting of more lab science, foreign language and higher math teachers
• Increased number of specialty classrooms (i.e., science and technology labs)
• Communication vehicle for regular parental notification and involvement
• Raising expectations for our students by increasing graduation requirements is commendable and necessary.

However, as the old adage says—failing to plan is planning to fail.

The District must develop a realistic timeline, with annual benchmarks and adequate preparation to make the mandatory A-G curriculum an attainable goal for graduation.