BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District
AUGMENTED INSTRUCTION/CURRICULUM/STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 1998 - Room H-160
Board Members Present:
Mr. David N. Tokofsky, Chairperson
Ms. Valerie Fields
Mr. Jeff Horton
Staff Present:
Ms. Carmen N. Schroeder, Associate Superintendent, Division of Instructional Services
Mr. Ron Prescott, Deputy Superintendent, Government Relations and Public Affairs
Ms. Judy Burton, Assistant Superintendent, School Reform/LEARN Implementation
Mr. Ramon S. Castillo, Assistant Superintendent, Parent Community Services Branch
Mr. Marty Varon, Budget Director, Budget Services and Financial Planning Division
Ms. Margaret A. Jones, Administrator, Specially Funded Programs
Mr. Forrest A. Ross, Administrator, Language Acquisition and Bilingual Development Branch
Dr. Richard Vladovic, Administrator, Professional Development Unit
Ms. Toni Marsnik, Coordinator, Language Acquisition Curriculum Development Unit
Mr. John Liechty, Director, Middle School Instructional Programs
Mr. Bob Collins, Director, Senior High Instructional Programs
Dr. Lu Hishmeh, Director, Grants Assistance Unit
Ms. Joan Evans, Director, Assessment of Student Achievement Program
Ms. Geri Herrera, Director, Elementary Instructional Programs
Ms. Carol Takemoto, Director, Los Angeles - Systemic Initiative
Ms. Terri H. Minami, Director, School Fiscal Services Branch
Mr. George Beckwith, Director of Telecommunications, Information Technology Branch
Others Present: See attached list.
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The meeting convened at 2:02 p.m.
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DIVISION OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES UPDATE
IMPACT OF PROPOSITION 227 ON THE DISTRICT'S INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM FOR
LIMITED-ENGLISH PROFICIENT (LEP) STUDENTS
Ms. Schroeder, Ms. Marsnik, Ms. Evans, Ms. Takemoto, Ms. Herrera, Mr. Ross, and Mr. Varon
provided information on how Proposition 227, the English Language Education for Children in
Public Schools Initiative, which will appear on the June 2, 1998, ballot, will impact the
professional development efforts and the instructional programs they support.
Staff responded to a number of questions raised by the Committee.
Speakers
The following individuals expressed their concerns about integrated mathematics, District
Standards, and the California Mathematics Standards:
Mrs. Diana Dixon-Davis, a parent
Dr. David Klein, Professor of Mathematics at California State University Northridge
Mrs. Rona Greenstadt, a parent and a teacher
Mr. Collins stated that the integrated mathematics and science programs were implemented as part
of the National Reform Movement in those subject areas and sponsored by the National Science
Foundation. He noted that 40% to 50% of students fail algebra in the United States.
In response to several questions raised by Mr. Tokofsky, Mr. Collins replied that the decision
process is made by the local school community about whether they are an integrated program, a
traditional program, or a combination of the two. It is not the intention of the Division of
Instructional Services to mandate that all schools offer integrated mathematics by the year 2000
2001. The District's policy is that schools can choose what curriculum materials they will use
based on a set of materials approved by the State.
DECISION OR DISCUSSION ITEMS
DIGITAL HIGH SCHOOL GRANT
Dr. Hishmeh presented Office of the Superintendent Communication No. 2 proposing acceptance
of a grant of $1,287,600 from the California Department of Education for the implementation of
the Digital High School Education Technology Program at Huntington Park High School from
April 9, 1998, through December 31, 2000.
Dr. Hishmeh introduced Mr. Emilio Garcia, Principal, and Mr. Marvin Gunderson, Assistant
Principal, Huntington Park High School.
The communication was approved for transmittal to the Board of Education on May 18, 1998.
TECHNOLOGY LITERACY CHALLENGE GRANT
Dr. Hishmeh presented Office of the Superintendent Communication No. 3 proposing acceptance
of a grant of $4,088,914 from the California Department of Education for the implementation of
the Technology Literacy Challenge Grant, entitled Focus on Achievement, from February 11,
1998, through September 30, 1998.
The communication was approved for transmittal to the Board of Education on May 18, 1998.
PROGRAMS OF THE FULFILLMENT FUND
Mr. David Roth, Director of Education and Government Affairs for the Fulfillment Fund,
spoke about the College Pathways Project and the Mentor Program. The College Pathways Project
is a unique and intense college preparatory program for high school students who traditionally have
been underrepresented in higher education. The mission of the Mentor Program is to identify in
the 7th grade promising economically disadvantaged students, some of whom are disabled, and
provide them with adult mentors in the 8th grade to encourage them to broaden their intellectual and
cultural horizons, successfully complete high school, and pursue an advanced education.
The following individuals described their experiences with the Fulfillment Fund programs:
Ms. Norma Provencio-Pichardo, a volunteer mentor for the Fulfillment Fund
Ms. Araceli Naranjo, a student at Occidental College
Mr. Mike McGalliard, Director of the College Pathways Project
MORGAN HART CLASS-SIZE REDUCTION IMPLICATIONS
Mr. Collins reported that the Morgan Hart Class-Size Reduction Bill was initiated in 1989 to
reduce class size to 20 to 1 in grades 9-12 in courses that meet graduation requirements. He
reviewed the main components of the legislation.
SUBMISSION OF PART I OF THE 1998-99 APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
CONSOLIDATED CATEGORICAL AID PROGRAMS
Ms. Jones and Ms. Minami presented Division of Instructional Services Communication No. 2
proposing submission to the California Department of Education for approval by the State Board of
Education, Part 1 of the 1998-99 Application for Funding Consolidated Categorical Aid Programs.
The communication was approved for transmittal to the Board of Education on May 18, 1998.
ETI EVALUATION OF LEARN TRAINING PARTNERS
Ms. Burton advised that the Evaluation and Training Institute (ETI) was contracted by the District
to conduct evaluations of three LEARN training programs delivered to LEARN school
communities during the 1996-97 school year. Each of the LEARN training programs (Learning
Community Program, Los Angeles Parent Institute for Quality Education, and the Division of
Adult and Career Education) has discrete goals and objectives, different target audiences, and
requires a different number of participants for implementation. Ms. Burton summarized the
findings and recommendations that ETI made for each program.
E-RATE UPDATE
Mr. Prescott advised that by July 1, 1998, every District school will be in the E-rate program. By
December 1999, every school will have at least one computer with one teacher and one student on
the Internet.
Mr. Beckwith made a presentation on the District's Information Technology Plan which has been
shown to Cluster administrators, principals, and District staff.
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The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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Notes by: Dinah Edwards, Board Secretariat