Board Member Motion

1. Ms. Hayes - African American Learners Initiative Action Plan (Waiver of Board Rule 72)
ADOPTED

Whereas, The Board voted in June 2001 to approve the African American Learners Initiative, a resolution committed to improving the academic performance of African American students and all others;

Whereas, The office of instruction have devised an action plan based on national scholarship, data and pedagogy that supports the efficacy of culturally relevant instruction as a strategy for improving the academic performance of African American students and all others; and

Whereas, The target goals of this action plan include increasing the numbers of African American students and other students who achieve at the standard or higher (50th percentile) in reading and mathematics; improving their access to A-G classes; implementing priority staffing of highly qualified teachers for local districts with the highest concentration of impoverished students; reducing the numbers of African American students and other students who are assigned to special education and increasing the assignment of African American students and other underrepresented students to Gifted and Talented programs; employing culturally relevant professional development district-wide; and acknowledging parent and community outreach as a key element in the academic success of African American students and all others; now, therefore, be it

Resolved that; The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles approve the action plan for the African American Learners Initiative with the full understanding that it is a working document that will be revisited and re-assessed in accordance with the findings of central and local district staff to address the needs of low achieving students;

Resolved further; That the Board mandate that each local district, in accordance with the provisions of the action plan, be required to continue working with the office of instruction to devise systemic strategies for improving the academic outcomes of African American students and all others;

Resolved; That the plan will be subject to ongoing internal and external monitoring and evaluation by the district's Program Evaluation and Research Branch and community-based and academic organizations.

Adjournment

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