CEO Elise Buik’s Blog

A high-quality education is the ultimate pathway out of poverty…

Over the past few years,  it’s become evident that in a sluggish economy, it is perhaps our children who suffer the most. Attempts to balance the state budget have resulted in $20 billion worth of funding cuts for our K-12 schools, limiting their ability to provide students of all ages with the tools they need to succeed.

Two new measures on the November ballot, Propositions 30 and 38, would raise much-needed funds to ensure a strong learning environment that includes smaller class sizes, an increase in per-pupil spending (California currently ranks 47^th in the nation) and preventing the school year from being shortened by as much as three weeks.

LAUSD has made significant gains in recent years by improving both its API (Academic Performance Index) score from 595 to 728 and overall graduation rate (from 56% in 2005 to 62% in 2011). We simply cannot afford to undermine the progress that has already been made when it comes to adequately preparing our kids for both college and career. The passage of Prop 30 and Prop 38 can help keep the District’s nearly 700,000 students on a clear path to success.

A high-quality education is the ultimate pathway out of poverty and pursuant to our mission to Create Pathways Out of Poverty for all Angelinos, United Way of Greater Los Angeles fully endorses Propositions 30 and 38 and we urge you to do the same.

By voting yes on both measures this November, you’re making a critical commitment to provide our students with the kind of public school education they deserve; thus securing the future of our businesses and region with a strong and educated workforce.

Read United Way’s official statement.

Read Steve Lopez’ article in The Los Angeles Times.

As we continue working with LAUSD to increase the high school graduation rate to 75%, we understand that graduating is just the first step on the road to success. We don’t want our children to simply graduate, we want them to graduate fully prepared for college and the workforce.

This week United Way, along with many parents and community members, successfully advocated to ensure that all students are given the courses they need to excel in college and beyond. The Board of Education approved a plan which requires all students to pass a series of “A-G” college preparatory classes (including English, History and Math) beginning next fall.

We believe it is absolutely critical for every child to gain equal access to these key elements of the curriculum and we applaud both LAUSD Board Members and Superintendent John Deasy for their leadership.

For more information on the Board of Education’s recent decision to provide its students with A-G courses, please click here.

 

As a part of our mission to improve the quality of our children’s education, United Way of Greater L.A. is continually investing in innovative middle school programs that work.

In February, we co-hosted “Diplomas Now: Investing in Innovation for L.A.’s Students” to explore a historic investment of federal and private funds to turn the city’s lowest-performing schools around.

Created by Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Robert Balfanz, the Diplomas Now model uses key performance data to identify youths at risk of dropping out and to provide them with tutoring, peer mentoring, case management and customized curriculum plans.

LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia recently appeared on KCLS’ Reform: The L.A. Way to share her thoughts on this unique approach to student intervention and how it can increase the District’s 56% graduation rate. To see the show now, click here.

For more information or to learn how you can get involved in our efforts, please contact me at ecbuik@unitedwayla.org.

A short time ago, I joined with area leaders in sending a letter to Dr. John Deasy, Mr. Warren Fletcher and the UTLA Membership and Members of the Board of Education for LAUSD. We asked them to help our resources from Los Angeles to get the best possible chance for a productive, educated life. Here’s a copy of our letter:

 Dear Gentlemen and Ladies:

As a collective set of individuals and organizations that represent the public and private sectors serving millions of families across this city, we consider the Los Angeles Unified School District a cornerstone of our community.  When the nearly 700,000 students who attend schools in the District succeed academically, families do better, the economy thrives, and our citizens become more engaged.  We succeed when LAUSA succeeds.

The current contract with UTLA expired on June 30th.  We are urging 1.) that UTLA and LAUSD leadership complete negotiations on a new contract at a pace that matches the urgency of the need–teachers want it, students deserve it, and parents expect it.  2.)  We are also urging that any contract provide key provisions set forth below.

We recognize student test scores have been increasing incrementally over the last few years; however, incremental advances are simply not enough.  When only 56% of our students graduate from high school ini four years, we are failing close to half of our kids and consigning them to a life of poverty.  We know the most critical difference in the academic success of a student is the quality of their teacher.  Providing the students in our diverse district with the best possible education will require change and comprehensive reform in the way teachers and school leaders are recruited, compensated, evaluated, developed and retained.

The time is now for our leadership to do the right thing.  We are sure you all agree that we must put the needs of students ahead of those of adults.  We must protect our students’ right to a  quality education and we support you in that pursuit.

Both the Los Angeles Unified School District and United Teachers Los Angeles have an incredible opportunity to create real systemic change in our schools by negotiating one of the most important labor contracts in the history of this city.  However, there seems to be no urgency to make the changes that would ensure that EVERY student has access to quality teaching – notsome students who are lucky enough to be in high-performing charter schools, pilot schools or other teacher-led models that are graduating upwards of 90% of their poor children of color and who are proving it can be done.

We urge you to come to agreement on the following provisions:

• Expand autonomy to every school so that teachers and principals have more flexibility and are empowered to design the type of curriculum, schedule and interventions that they feel will work.

• Empower principals to build their own teams and recruit teachers; stop forcing them to take “must-place” teachers based on factors that have nothing to do with student achievement.  Principals should be empowered to hire who they want, and not have to deal with forced placements of teachers.

• Include consideration of school/program needs and teacher performance when implementing personnel decisions, including reductions in force, transfers, displacements, assignments, and return rights.

• Guarantee that every school can vote on agreements that clearly state what is expected for employees at each school site (elect-to-work agreement), and that any school whose staff votes for such an agreement is allowed to implement it.

• Provide multiple measure evaluations to teachers, in which observations by academic leaders, student “academic growth over time” data, and stakeholder (teacher, parents, and student) feedback, and a teacher’s contribution to the school are used to evaluate teacher quality.

• Connect appropriate professional development to teachers so they may use the evaluation data to improve their practice.

• Provide mechanisms for teachers to receive additional compensation for being effective, not for taking additional courses, and for taking on harder assignments.

 While we know that our schools are severely under-resourced, people do not want to fund a broken system.  Start putting kids first and the community will overwhelmingly support you.  We call on the Superintendent, the LAUSD school board and the House of Representatives of UTLA to approve a new landmark contract.  The public expects you to do the right thing for the students of Los Angeles.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Avila

President, Alliance for a Better Community*

Elise Buik 

President and CEO, United Way of Greater Los Angeles*

James Cuno

President and CEO, The J. Paul Getty Trust*

John Emerson

Chairman Emeritus, Music Center*

David Fleming 

Of Counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP* Founding Chair, LA County Business Federation*

Ronald Gastelum

Attorney at Law*

Russell Goldsmith

Chairman and CEO, City National Bank*

Antonia Hernandez

President and CEO, California Community Foundation*

Mickey Kantor

Partner, Mayer Brown LLP*

George Kieffer

Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP*

Stewart Kwoh

President & Executive Director, Asian Pacific American Legal Center*

Andy Lipkis 

President, Tree People*

Cindy Miscikowski 

President, Board of Harbor Commissions Port of Los Angeles* System*

Thomas M. Priselac

President & CEO, Cedars Sinai Health System*

Robert K. Ross, M.D.

President & CEO, The California Endowment*

John H. Semcken III

Vice President, Majestic Realty Co.*

Robert Simonds

The Robert Simonds Company*

Steve Soboroff

Soboroff Partners*

Blair Taylor

President & CEO, Los Angeles Urban League*

Gary Toebben

President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce*

Matthew A. Toledo

CEO & Publisher, Los Angeles Business Journal*

John Mack

Vice President, Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners*; Former President Los Angeles Urban League*