Nearly 400 students, teachers, parents and community leaders had gathered outside LAUSD headquarters on Tuesday, June 9, to ask the Board to recommit to A-G college prep courses for all students with added resources and supports.
Their goal was achieved when the board agreed unanimously during it’s meeting Tuesday to recommit to such a policy.
The A-G college sequence is a series of 15 courses students must pass in order to receive a high school diploma, and meet requirements for the CSU/UC college systems.
Co-sponsored by board members Monica Garcia, Steve Zimmer and George McKenna, the resolution seeks to improve a 10-year old policy aimed at closing the achievement gap, and preparing students for college and careers.
A new recommitment to A-G coursework means that students will continue to have access to A-G on their high school campus. It also means that the district is now tasked with monitoring student A-G progress and researching which high school A-G programs work.
Student success will largely require the district provide needed student and teacher supports and interventions in order to ensure that student’s successfully complete the coursework.
“Our community’s demand is loud and clear: A-G is the path to graduation in LAUSD. We believe our children are capable of achieving their potential and that every child, with the proper academic support, can become a college and career ready LAUSD graduate,” said García. “We continue to move forward towards 100 percent graduation.”
Equity On A-G, a coalition comprised of 51 Los Angeles nonprofit organizations that organized the rally at the LAUSD office, expressed its satisfaction in a statement.
“We expect that the LAUSD will soon lift the standards to the “C” grade or better requirement. This will ensure that all students have access to the highest quality education and receive a meaningful diploma,” the statement said.
“Our fight will continue until all low-income African American and Latino students receive their fair share and equal opportunity to succeed in life. College prep is good for all because it build’s tomorrow’s leaders, heroes and work force.Thanks to the unwavering work of this coalition of more than 51 grassroots organizations, students who are “off track” for A-G, will get the services that they require – such as counselors, credit recovery programs and online courses – in order to pass these classes.”
Equity officials said the coalition “Our fight will continue until all low-income African American and Latino students receive their fair share and equal opportunity to succeed in life. College prep is good for all because it build’s tomorrow’s leaders, heroes and work force.”