A-G REQUIREMENT: AN END WITH LIMITED MEANS

from the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles Weekly Update | Week of May 14, 2012 | http://bit.ly/KzmMak

On Tuesday May 8, 2012, the Board of Education approved the implementation of mandated A-G graduation requirements for the incoming freshman class of 2012-2013. It also reduced the number of credits needed for graduation and raised the passing grade to C (for the freshman class of 2013-2014).

These changes are being touted by Superintendent Deasy as “a victory for all students,” and as “all about a kid’s civil rights.”

While these are great statements for public consumption and make great sound bites and tweets, what exactly does this change in graduation requirements actually do for our students and where is the meat in the proposal? Although we are aware that a pending resolution for Board action attempts to identify preliminary steps for the Superintendent, we, at AALA, have been giving more substantive thought to those at the school site who must implement this proposal. Has any consideration been given to the processes, procedures and supports needed to ensure that students meet these requirements?

During these days when we are faced with draconian budget cuts which threaten the efficacy of the entire system, how are we going to prepare teachers for the enhanced rigor, how are we going to increase our fine arts electives, where are we going to find the additional foreign language teachers, upgrade our laboratory science classrooms, increase professional development opportunities that do not remove teachers from the classroom, provide additional support for at-risk students, fully integrate our English Learners into the core curriculum, fund enrichment and credit recovery programs?

Yes, we want all students prepared for college or careers when they graduate, but what is the substance of the plan? And where is the budget? Aren’t our norms for high school administrators, teachers and counselors at the highest levels in District history? Has any consideration been given to the support needed by elementary and middle schools to ensure that students are “high school ready”? What is the point of increasing the passing grade to a C? How many students will we lose in the meantime? How and when will we measure the success of this plan? At what point do we stop and evaluate, look at statistics, revamp, reconsider?

Before everyone jumps on this train, let us be sure that the tracks are in good working condition and continually maintained, the dispatchers are experts, the cars and engines are fully equipped, structurally sound, appropriately staffed and have enough emergency exits.