Teachers, parents and community members from 12 existing and 24 new LAUSD schools submit letters of intent for LAUSD school choice motion

November 13, 2009 – Working together with parents, community members and United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), teachers from each of 12 existing and 24 new LAUSD schools will submit letters of intent on Monday Nov. 16 to create plans to improve student learning as part of LAUSD’s school choice motion.

United Teachers Los Angeles has been working with schools District-wide to create plans that meet the unique needs of individual schools.  The teachers’ union believes that all LAUSD schools must serve the local community, including all local students, English language learners and special ed students. UTLA believes that unique, individualized school-specific plans created from within schools are in the best interest of students, as opposed to one-size-fits-all solutions from outside operators. 

“UTLA is committed to helping teachers create plans that work best for their school,” said A.J. Duffy,
UTLA President.  “Authentic school change must come from within.  Every school is different and teachers, parents and the local community, those closest to the classroom, know best what their students need.”

UTLA, along with the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA), LAUSD, Unite-L.A. and other groups, formed the Los Angeles School Development Institute (LASDI), to assist school teams in developing plans. The plans propose various reform options such as Expanded School Based Management Model (ESBMM), Pilot schools,  iDesign schools, and affiliated District charter schools.  The models differ in key ways, but all promote partnerships in which teachers, parents, and administrators have local control of budgets, staffing and other key areas of school change. 

UTLA is committed to school reform.  While the union remains opposed to giving away district schools to private operators, it sees the motion as an opportunity to kick-start changes teachers and health and human services professionals have long wanted for our schools. 

What:       School Choice Letters of Intent Press Conference
When:       Monday, November  16, 2009, 7:00 a.m.
Where:      Jefferson High School , 1319 E. 41st Street, Los Angeles, 90011
(google map)

Media will have a chance to hear directly from at least one of the schools that will submit a plan. 
Contact Marla Eby, UTLA Director of Communications at 213-368-6247 for additional details.
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