LAUSD Passes Policy,
Motion on SLCs

The LAUSD Board of Education on Tuesday, October 5 voted to adopt a motion and policy endorsing Small Learning Communities and Small Schools throughout the district. The motion was passed by a unanimous vote. Calling small schools “a hopeful avenue for the improvement of urban public education,” the motion defined SLCs and encouraged the funding of Small School Learning Communities by the district and outside funding sources.

Small learning communities, the motion emphasized, should have “a distinct and compelling vision” and identity. Reflecting a diverse student population, they should provide “coherent, rigorous standards-based curriculum and culturally linguistically responsive pedagogy” while district leaders pursue community partners to “help shape and support the educational process inside and outside the school.”

The motion was sponsored by Board Members Tokofsky and Lauritzen.

The policy also passed, 5-1, with Board Member Tokofsky voting no and Board Member Huizar absent. Representatives of teachers’ unions UTLA and AALA voiced support for the motion and the philosophy of Small Learning Communities, but had concerns about the policy as it was presented.  Superintendent Romer acknowledged these concerns and asked that UTLA and AALA (and others!) continue to help LAUSD as they develop future policies and plans that will address the legitimate questions and concerns raised at the meeting.

The policy states that the Board will encourage the redesign of “existing high school configurations into smaller learning communities between 350 and 500 students.”

The lengthier motion declared that the Board “instruct the Superintendent… to redirect appropriate existing resources and seek additional outside funding… to support planning, design, professional development, and implementation activities” for SSLCs.

This vote came as the culmination of weeks of discussion. Several improvements to the language of the motion and policy have been made since it was first noticed to the Board on July 13. A special meeting was called specifically to discuss the motion and policy, and at that meeting, several members of the community spoke, expressing great hope for SLCs and a readiness to undertake the challenges ahead.  The Board then discussed and voted on the resolutions on Tuesday, October 5, 2004.

At the special meeting, the Board heard from several members of the community, as well as Steve Jubb, whose San Francisco-area organization helped transform 2 of the 3 worst-performing schools in California into small schools. Mr. Jubb had earlier been invited by Local District 4 to share his expertise at the L.A. Chamber of Commerce earlier in the day – see the related article in this month’s newsletter.

At the meeting of the Board, Jubb warned that “the devil is in the details,” encouraging LAUSD to prepare for “unintended consequences of success,” such as a growing student population as the dropout rate declines. In the face of such challenges, Jubb urged the Board Members and everyone in the audience to hold fast.

“The transformation of large comprehensive high schools is probably the civil rights issue of our time,” he said. “Don’t avoid it because you’re scared. This is the right thing to do; it must be done.”