Friday, February 12, 2016

IT'S 'ALL HANDS ON DECK' AS LAUSD SAYS NEARLY 1 IN 2 SENIORS NOT ON TRACK TO GRADUATE


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LAUSD graduation rate

Posted on   ::  Only roughly one in two LAUSD high school seniors is currently on track to graduate, and the district is scrambling to get extra assistance to an estimated 15,000 students in danger of being left behind this June.

According to internal district reports obtained by LA School Report, an estimated 54 percent of seniors are on track to meet their “A through G” requirements. The actual graduation rate could be even lower as there are several other requirements to graduate.

While the estimate is a stark drop from last year’s all-time high of 74 percent, it has been known for years that the district was facing a steep decline this year, when stricter graduation requirements went into effect.

But while the drop was anticipated, the recent internal reports showing a 27 percent plunge from last spring’s rate elicited an alert from the superintendent directing urgent new steps, including weekly updates from staff and letters sent monthly to parents, starting in February, informing them of the necessary courses that need to be completed.

The district would not disclose how many seniors had received “off track” letters this month. According to data available in October, the district had 33,420 seniors in the 2015-16 school year, meaning an estimated 15,373 would currently be off track for graduation.

The new estimate does not reflect progress by a $15-million credit recovery program begun last fall that puts students in specials classes after school and during breaks to help them pass classes they previously failed. District leaders in November had reported an extremely high participation rate in the program and predicted a high pass rate, which if proves true could land the 2016 graduation rate close to last year’s.

Still, despite the optimism over the ongoing credit recovery program, Superintendent Michelle King wrote in a January email to local district superintendents, “This is ‘all hands on deck.'”
 

The email was sent a week after she was installed as superintendent, and King also created a timeline that calls for regular updates to her office as well as benchmarks for the district to meet between now and the end of the semester.




King inherited a number of major district problems, but perhaps none more urgent than the pending graduation crisis. In the memo, King said that “my top priority is ensuring that all students graduate and complete A-G requirements.”

She added, “This [54 percent estimate] will likely increase in the coming weeks as a result of the constant monitoring, additional resources to schools, and ongoing credit recovery efforts you have coordinated. Nonetheless, if even one student fails to graduate, that is one too many — we cannot rest until every student graduates college-prepared and career-ready.”

Another district report obtained by LA School Report includes a school-by-school breakdown of estimated graduation rates and shows that some schools are facing a daunting challenge.

 
A-G "D" or Better Requirements By Location, Class of 2016
Time Occurrence: FALL, 2015-2016
LD BD Preferred Location Loc Code % Missing 3+ % Missing 2 % Missing 1 % On-Track # of Students
C 1 32ND STREET USC PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET  7137 1% 2% 35% 62% 81
C 2 BELMONT SENIOR HIGH  8543 26% 6% 13% 56% 189
C 2 BELMONT SENIOR HIGH - LOS ANGELES TEACHER PREPARATORY ACAD  8210 46% 8% 14% 32% 37
C 5 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL  8643 18% 7% 13% 62% 289
C 2 CENTRAL CONTINUATION HIGH  8580 94% 2% 2% 2% 163
C 2 DOWNTOWN BUSINESS MAGNET  8738 7% 10% 14% 68% 231
C 7 DR MAYA ANGELOU COMM HS SOCIAL JUSTICE:FINE & PERFORMING ART  7722 41% 10% 13% 37% 219
C 5 EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL  8614 15% 7% 12% 66% 372
C 2 EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY - LA TRADE TECH COLLEGE  8710 75% 13% 8% 4% 76
C 2 EDWARD R ROYBAL LEARNING CENTER  8544 27% 10% 15% 48% 259
C 1 FOSHAY LEARNING CENTER  8132 2% 3% 4% 91% 150
C 2 FRANK LANTERMAN HIGH SCHOOL  1919 100%       8
C 2 FRIDA KAHLO CONTINUATION HIGH  8777 97% 1% 1%   67
C 2 HAROLD MCALISTER HIGH SCHOOL CYESIS  1918 83% 4% 2% 11% 54
C 2 HARRIS NEWMARK CONTINUATION HIGH  8545 96% 4%     50
C 5 HIGHLAND PARK CONTINUATION HIGH  8645 93%     7% 15
C 5 JOHN MARSHALL SENIOR HIGH  8750 13% 6% 11% 70% 526
C 1 JOSEPH POMEROY WIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL  1914 100%       22
C 1 MANUAL ARTS SENIOR HIGH  8743 18% 11% 23% 48% 290
C 2 MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX - ACDEMIC LDRSHP COMMUNITY  8207 19% 9% 10% 62% 89
C 2 MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX - BUSINESS AND TOURISM  8517 11% 5% 18% 66% 111
C 2 MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX - LA SCH OF GLOBAL STUDIES  8774 17% 6% 10% 67% 87
C 2 MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX - SCHOOL OF SOCIAL JUSTICE  8527 12% 3% 10% 75% 114
C 2 ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL SENIOR HIGH MEDICAL MAGNET  8853 7% 3% 12% 79% 200
C 2 RAMON C CORTINES SCHOOL OF VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS  8516 12% 7% 14% 67% 363
C 2 RFK COMM SCHLS - AMBASSADOR SCHOOL - GLOBAL LEADERSHIP  7771 26% 3% 11% 59% 87
C 2 RFK COMM SCHLS - LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS  8501 15% 8% 9% 67% 85
C 2 RFK COMM SCHLS - NEW OPEN WORLD ACADEMY K-12  7783 16% 13% 5% 66% 38
C 2 RFK COMM SCHLS - SCHOOL FOR VISUAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES  8206 30% 5% 12% 53% 74
C 2 RFK COMM SCHLS - UCLA COMMUNITY SCHOOL K-12  7780 20% 7% 12% 61% 109
C 2 SANTEE EDUCATION COMPLEX  8716 25% 8% 15% 53% 359
C 2 SECONDARY COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8497 100%       8
C 5 SONIA SOTOMAYOR LEARNING ACADEMIES HISTORY AND DRAMATIC ARTS  7707 21% 12% 12% 56% 86
C 5 SONIA SOTOMAYOR LEARNING ACADEMIES LOS ANGELES RIVER SCHOOL  8577 26% 15% 17% 42% 53
C 5 THOMAS JEFFERSON SENIOR HIGH  8714 22% 8% 12% 58% 219
C 2 TRI-C COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8991 100%       48
C 2 WEST ADAMS PREPARATORY SENIOR HIGH  8748 25% 9% 18% 49% 381
E 2 ABRAHAM LINCOLN SENIOR HIGH  8729 34% 9% 8% 49% 267
E 2 ALFONSO B PEREZ SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER  1953 100%       19
E 5 BELL SENIOR HIGH  8536 23% 8% 15% 54% 710
E 2 BOYLE HEIGHTS CONTINUATION HIGH  8831 100%       36
E 2 CITY OF ANGELS INDEPENDENT STUDIES  8801 75% 8% 7% 11% 418
E 5 ELIZABETH LEARNING CENTER  3548 11% 6% 9% 75% 175
E 2 ENVIRONMENTAL / SOCIAL POLICY MAGNET  7750 17% 3% 11% 69% 35
E 2 ESTEBAN TORRES HS - EAST LOS ANGELES PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET  8606 22% 12% 14% 52% 97
E 2 ESTEBAN TORRES HS - EAST LOS ANGELES RENAISSANCE ACADEMY  7772 24% 13% 13% 49% 75
E 2 ESTEBAN TORRES HS - ENGINEER & TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY  7773 24% 11% 17% 48% 90
E 2 ESTEBAN TORRES HS - HUMANITAS ACADEMY OF ART & TECHNOLOGY  7775 11% 5% 9% 75% 76
E 2 ESTEBAN TORRES HS - SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY  7777 16% 4% 15% 64% 97
E 2 FELICITAS AND GONZALO MENDEZ SENIOR HIGH  8611 17% 10% 16% 58% 157
E 2 FRANCISCO BRAVO SENIOR HIGH MEDICAL MAGNET  8754 4% 5% 9% 81% 433
E 2 HILDA L SOLIS LEARNING ACADEMY  7752 24% 8% 19% 48% 83
E 5 HUNTINGTON PARK SENIOR HIGH  8700 20% 7% 14% 58% 358
E 5 INTERNATIONAL STUDIES LEARNING CENTER  8701 10% 7% 37% 45% 108
E 2 JAMES A GARFIELD SENIOR HIGH  8679 16% 5% 15% 65% 522
E 5 LEGACY SENIOR HIGH SCI TECH ENGINEERING ARTS MATH  8921 9% 6% 20% 65% 110
E 5 LEGACY SENIOR HIGH VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS  7664 16% 10% 23% 51% 81
E 2 LINCOLN SH LEADERSHIP IN ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA ARTS  7753 27% 8% 19% 46% 37
E 5 LINDA ESPERANZA MARQUEZ SENIOR HIGH HPIAM  8866 25% 9% 13% 52% 142
E 5 LINDA ESPERANZA MARQUEZ SENIOR HIGH LIBRA ACADEMY  7725 10% 9% 12% 68% 154
E 5 LINDA ESPERANZA MARQUEZ SENIOR HIGH SOCIAL JUSTICE  7669 25% 6% 12% 56% 108
E 5 MAYWOOD ACADEMY SENIOR HIGH  8882 15% 7% 10% 68% 296
E 2 METROPOLITAN CONTINUATION HIGH  8757 97%   3%   30
E 2 MONTEREY CONTINUATION HIGH  8677 89% 3% 3% 5% 38
E 5 ODYSSEY CONTINUATION HIGH  8873 98% 2%     54
E 5 PACIFIC BOULEVARD SCHOOL  4642 100%       4
E 2 PUEBLO DE LOS ANGELES CONTINUATION HIGH  8731 91% 6% 3%   34
E 2 RAMONA OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL  8807 100%       11
E 2 ROOSEVELT SENIOR HIGH MATH/SCIENCE MAGNET  7751 15% 11% 13% 60% 98
E 5 SAN ANTONIO CONTINUATION HIGH  8702 91% 9%     11
E 5 SIMON RODIA CONTINUATION HIGH  8723 100%       52
E 5 SOUTH EAST SENIOR HIGH  8881 17% 7% 15% 61% 477
E 5 SOUTH GATE SENIOR HIGH  8871 17% 7% 13% 63% 667
E 2 THEODORE ROOSEVELT SENIOR HIGH  7749 39% 10% 15% 37% 387
E 2 WOODROW WILSON SENIOR HIGH  8618 20% 8% 18% 54% 307
NE 3 AMELIA EARHART CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL  8788 97% 3%     32
NE 6 ARLETA SENIOR HIGH  8609 16% 8% 21% 54% 309
NE 3 BERENECE CARLSON HOSPITAL HOME SCHOOL  1944 98%     2% 42
NE 6 CAL BURKE HIGH SCHOOL  8612 92% 8%     59
NE 6 CESAR E CHAVEZ LEARNING ACADEMY - ACADEMY OF SCI EXPLORATION  7717 31% 6% 15% 48% 96
NE 6 CESAR E CHAVEZ LEARNING ACADEMY - ARTS/THEATRE/ENTERTAIN MAG  7715 22% 10% 14% 53% 116
NE 6 CESAR E CHAVEZ LEARNING ACADEMY - SOCIAL JST HUMANITAS ACAD  7716 14% 10% 7% 69% 124
NE 6 CESAR E CHAVEZ LEARNING ACADEMY - TEACHER PREP ACADEMY  8901 26% 6% 13% 55% 109
NE 6 CHARLES LEROY LOWMAN SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER  1948 100%       8
NE 6 EAST VALLEY SENIOR HIGH  8607 30% 13% 17% 39% 143
NE 6 EVERGREEN CONTINUATION HIGH  8876 100%       36
NE 3 JACK LONDON COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8092 92% 8%     13
NE 3 JACK LONDON CONTINUATION HIGH  8685 100%       22
NE 6 JOHN H FRANCIS POLYTECHNIC SENIOR HIGH  8636 21% 8% 20% 50% 617
NE 6 MISSION CONTINUATION HIGH  8845 100%       19
NE 6 MOUNT LUKENS CONTINUATION HIGH  8916 100%       17
NE 3 NORTH HOLLYWOOD SENIOR HIGH  8786 17% 7% 17% 59% 593
NE 6 PANORAMA SENIOR HIGH  8610 20% 7% 14% 59% 273
NE 6 ROBERT FULTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL  8142 11% 6% 12% 71% 184
NE 6 ROBERT H LEWIS CONTINUATION HIGH  8638 100%       41
NE 6 SAN FERNANDO SENIOR HIGH  8843 17% 6% 17% 60% 533
NE 6 SUN VALLEY SENIOR HIGH  8093 36% 8% 24% 32% 103
NE 6 SYLMAR BIOTECH HEALTH ACADEMY  7658 21% 6% 21% 52% 82
NE 6 SYLMAR SENIOR HIGH  8878 19% 4% 13% 64% 408
NE 3 ULYSSES S GRANT SENIOR HIGH  8683 24% 9% 17% 50% 470
NE 6 VAN NUYS SENIOR HIGH  8893 18% 5% 10% 66% 572
NE 6 VERDUGO HILLS SENIOR HIGH  8914 24% 11% 21% 43% 304
NE 6 WILL ROGERS CONTINUATION HIGH  8895 97% 1% 2%   93
NW 3 AGGELER COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8506 100%       28
NW 6 ALBERT EINSTEIN CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL  8770 100%       33
NW 3 CANOGA PARK SENIOR HIGH  8571 35% 8% 13% 44% 370
NW 3 CHATSWORTH CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL  8583 24% 9% 11% 56% 469
NW 3 DANIEL PEARL SENIOR HIGH JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATIONS MAGNET  8558 8% 5% 10% 77% 93
NW 3 DIANE S LEICHMAN HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER  1908 100%       8
NW 3 GROVER CLEVELAND CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL  8590 15% 7% 15% 64% 705
NW 4 HENRY DAVID THOREAU CONTINUATION HIGH  8883 96%     4% 24
NW 3 INDEPENDENCE CONTINUATION HIGH  8559 88% 12%     34
NW 6 JAMES MONROE SENIOR HIGH  8768 29% 9% 17% 45% 560
NW 3 JANE ADDAMS CONTINUATION HIGH  8726 98% 2%     43
NW 3 JOAQUIN MILLER CAREER AND TRANSITION CENTER  1910 100%       20
NW 3 JOHN F KENNEDY SENIOR HIGH  8725 26% 9% 12% 53% 471
NW 3 JOHN R WOODEN HIGH SCHOOL  8591 94%   6%   35
NW 3 NORTHRIDGE ACADEMY SENIOR HIGH  8513 9% 5% 19% 66% 231
NW 3 OWENSMOUTH CONTINUATION HIGH  8573 100%       44
NW 6 RESEDA SENIOR HIGH  8814 27% 9% 18% 46% 357
NW 3 SHERMAN OAKS CENTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES (SOCES) MAGNET 8842 3% 4% 11% 82% 222
NW 3 STONEY POINT CONTINUATION HIGH  8585 98% 3%     40
NW 3 VALLEY ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES  8898 14% 5% 11% 69% 311
NW 3 VALLEY ALTERNATIVE MAGNET  7390 9% 2% 2% 87% 47
NW 4 WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL  8880 17% 7% 20% 57% 496
NW 3 WILLIAM TELL AGGELER OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL  8507 100%       25
NW 6 ZANE GREY CONTINUATION HIGH  8816 96%   4%   25
S 7 ANGEL'S GATE CONTINUATION HIGH  8852 97%     3% 34
S 7 AVALON CONTINUATION HIGH  8531 94%   6%   32
S 7 BENJAMIN BANNEKER SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER  1941 100%       2
S 7 CARSON SENIOR HIGH  8575 19% 10% 17% 53% 344
S 7 CARSON SENIOR HIGH - ACADEMY OF EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT  7657 14% 10% 9% 67% 116
S 7 CARSON SENIOR HIGH - ACADEMY OF MEDICAL ARTS  7656 9% 5% 10% 76% 109
S 7 DAVID STARR JORDAN SENIOR HIGH  8721 45% 7% 8% 39% 152
S 7 DIEGO RIVERA LEARNING COMPLEX COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY  7718 21% 11% 18% 50% 107
S 7 DIEGO RIVERA LEARNING COMPLEX GREEN DESIGN  7719 30% 7% 10% 53% 92
S 7 DIEGO RIVERA LEARNING COMPLEX PERFORMING ARTS  7721 16% 10% 11% 63% 119
S 7 DIEGO RIVERA LEARNING COMPLEX PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNITY  8867 19% 5% 13% 63% 109
S 7 DOROTHY V JOHNSON COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  7761 93%   3% 3% 30
S 7 EAGLE TREE CONTINUATION HIGH  8578 100%       30
S 7 ERNEST P WILLENBERG SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER  1957 100%       15
S 7 GARDENA SENIOR HIGH  8664 25% 9% 13% 54% 351
S 7 GEORGE S PATTON CONTINUATION HIGH  8781 92% 6% 3%   36
S 7 HARBOR TEACHER PREPARATION ACADEMY  8518   2% 1% 97% 91
S 7 JOHN C FREMONT SENIOR HIGH  8650 30% 11% 19% 39% 370
S 7 JOHN HOPE CONTINUATION HIGH  8652 67% 10% 19% 5% 21
S 0 KING-DREW SENIOR HIGH MEDICINE AND SCIENCE MAGNET  8727 1% 2% 9% 88% 348
S 7 MERVYN M DYMALLY SENIOR HIGH  7667 29% 13% 16% 43% 119
S 7 MONETA CONTINUATION HIGH  8666 100%       24
S 7 NARBONNE SH-HUMANITIES & ARTS (HARTS) ACADEMY OF LOS ANGELES 8838 17% 9% 18% 56% 82
S 7 NATHANIEL NARBONNE SENIOR HIGH  8779 18% 9% 15% 58% 609
S 7 PHINEAS BANNING SENIOR HIGH  8529 20% 7% 17% 56% 526
S 7 RANCHO DOMINGUEZ PREPARATORY SCHOOL  8868 26% 5% 16% 53% 150
S 7 SAN PEDRO SENIOR HIGH  8850 21% 8% 14% 57% 542
S 7 THOMAS RILEY HIGH SCHOOL - CYESIS  1917 90% 5% 3% 3% 39
S 7 WILLIAM J JOHNSTON COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8589 100%       37
S 1 YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED  8948 91% 4% 5%   113
W 1 ALEXANDER HAMILTON SENIOR HIGH  8686 11% 7% 14% 68% 634
W 1 AUGUSTUS F HAWKINS SH - COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES SCHOOL  7665 29% 4% 9% 57% 75
W 1 AUGUSTUS F HAWKINS SH - CRITICAL DESIGN AND GAMING SCHOOL  8713 22% 6% 9% 63% 138
W 1 AUGUSTUS F HAWKINS SH - RESPONSIBLE INDIGENOUS SOC ENTRPRENR  7666 25% 12% 11% 52% 116
W 1 CHEVIOT HILLS CONTINUATION HIGH  8688 91% 9%     32
W 1 CRENSHAW MAGNETS: SCIENCE TECH ENGINEER MATH & MEDICINE  8596 28% 10% 17% 44% 212
W 1 DUKE ELLINGTON CONTINUATION HIGH  8930 97% 3%     38
W 4 FAIRFAX SENIOR HIGH  8621 19% 8% 15% 58% 431
W 1 GEORGE WASHINGTON PREPARATORY SENIOR HIGH  8928 29% 11% 15% 45% 246
W 4 HELEN BERNSTEIN SENIOR HIGH  8696 43% 4% 19% 35% 127
W 4 HELEN BERNSTEIN SH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATH  7734 15% 5% 14% 66% 146
W 4 HOLLYWOOD SENIOR HIGH  8693 13% 4% 15% 68% 322
W 4 JAMES J MCBRIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER  1952 100%       6
W 1 LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES (LACES) MAGNET 8741 2% 2% 7% 89% 220
W 1 LOS ANGELES SENIOR HIGH  8736 30% 8% 15% 46% 331
W 1 MARLTON SCHOOL  1949 67%     33% 12
W 1 MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL  8760 2% 3% 8% 87% 109
W 4 PHOENIX CONTINUATION HIGH  8909 94%     6% 32
W 4 RICHARD A ALONZO COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8670 97% 3%     68
W 1 SUSAN MILLER DORSEY SENIOR HIGH  8600 27% 8% 24% 41% 235
W 4 UNIVERSITY SENIOR HIGH  8886 12% 6% 14% 69% 380
W 4 VENICE SENIOR HIGH  8907 21% 6% 16% 58% 444
W 1 VIEW PARK CONTINUATION HIGH  8602 95% 2%   2% 41
W 4 WEST HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL  8730 70% 23% 3% 3% 30
W 4 WESTCHESTER ENRICHED SCIENCES MAGNETS-HEALTH/SPORTS MED MAG  8943 18% 8% 12% 62% 241
W 4 WHITMAN CONTINUATION HIGH  8623 96%     4% 28
W 1 WHITNEY YOUNG CONTINUATION HIGH  8598 100%       21













































































































The Foshay Learning Center (91 percent) and Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet (81 percent) are well ahead of last year’s 74 percent graduation rate for the district, while others like Dorsey High (41 percent) and Verdugo Hills High (43 percent) are far behind.

The new A-G graduation standards were drawn up by the board in 2005. The standards, which require students to pass a series of classes making them eligible for admission into California’s public universities, go into effect for the first time this year. The 2005 board thought that 11 years was enough time for the district to improve its curriculum efforts to meet the raised bar, but it was not.

In the face of the pending graduation dropoff, the school board amended the requirements in June so that students only need to earn a “D” in the A-G classes and not the “C” that would be required for college eligibility starting in 2017. The move was a significant concession by the board, as the entire purpose of the A-G curriculum was to get more students into college. This year’s class was always to be allowed a “D” to meet A-G requirements.

The June resolution reaffirming the board’s commitment to A-G called on the superintendent’s office to develop a long-term plan set to begin in the 2016-2017 school year, leaving the class of 2016 caught somewhat in the middle and without much help but for the credit recovery program.

An A-G task force also produced a comprehensive report in the fall that calls on detailed and wide-ranging improvements the district needs to make to improve A-G completion, but much of it is also broader and long-term without much immediate help for the class of 2016.

The new 54 percent estimate — which includes all data from the fall semester — is a bump from the last available district estimate, which in October showed 49 percent of seniors were on track with A-G. But with only marginal improvement over the fall semester, it is clear that the credit recovery program is key to making any significant increase before the spring semester concludes.

Frances Gipson, the district’s chief academic officer, wrote in an email to LA School Report that the credit recovery program is going well.

“Superintendent King is monitoring our A-G progress with focused weekly meetings and updates,” said Gipson, who is in charge of the A-G implementation plan.

“Students are currently enrolled in recovery options and are also successfully completing advanced courses. Our approach is about access, accomplishment and providing a personalized opportunity for our scholars.”

For credit recovery, each of the six local district superintendents was given the freedom to craft their own plan using a number of options, part of a decentralization effort that was put into place by former Superintendent Ramon Cortines. Each plan rolled out at a slightly different time throughout October and November, depending on the district.

Many of the credit recovery options are computer-based, like Edgenuity, which is being used on a wide scale. Students take the classes on Saturdays, during free periods or after school. The computer courses either have a teacher adding some instruction to go along with the computer program, known as blended learning, or it is or an all-online course, known as virtual learning.

In the fall, a high level of seniors missing A though G courses were signed up. For example, Gipson — who at the time was the Local District East superintendent before being promoted to her current role — reported that every senior short of an A-G course had been signed up for credit recovery in her district.

While Gipson reported that credit recovery is still going well in 2016, she did not offer any estimates as to what level it may impact the graduation rate.

“Our counselors and teachers are amazing. Local school leadership teams are rallying around our graduates, and our data points continue to increase,” Gipson said. “For example, over the winter break more than 800 student courses were recovered through our A-G localized plans.”

The credit recovery program, if it turns out to be as successful as has been predicted by district officials, is being achieved through the relatively modest cost of $15 million.

When asked directly in the fall why the district hadn’t done anything like it before, Gipson said, “As we are coming out of one of the worst financial times in educational history, as a leader I’m happy it is happening now for kids and we can put the resources behind it to make sure it happens for kids.”

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