Article: LAUSD must boost graduation rates, new superintendent says

L.A. Unified's new chief outlines ambitious agenda
Supt. John Deasy promises swift, substantial and specific increases in graduation rates, attendance and test scores. Other goals target English comprehension, attendance, and suspension rates.

By Jason Song and Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times
April 16, 2011

In his first official day on the job, Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy promised swift, substantial and specific increases in graduation rates, attendance and test scores in the nation's second-largest school system.
The graduation rate must rise from 55% to 70% in four years; the percentage of middle and high school students who test as "proficient" in math must nearly double; and the percentage of students who pass courses required to attend state four-year universities must nearly triple, he said.

Other ambitious goals announced Friday apply to English comprehension, attendance and suspension rates.
If the district achieves the goals, "we've done a bit of a moon shot," Deasy said in an interview Friday. "If we come near them, we're doing great. If we don't, then we will have failed … And if we fail, we should be held accountable."

Some goals overlap with bonus clauses in Deasy's contract. He could, for example, receive a $10,000 bonus if the number of graduates rises by at least 8% in a given year.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reiterated Friday that he would pursue measures to support changes in the school district aimed at rapid academic improvement.

Speaking to a downtown meeting of California newspaper publishers, the mayor said he would lobby for changes in state law that would alter the rules for evaluating teachers and for granting tenure to teachers.
He also wants state laws amended so that layoffs, when necessary, occur based on instructors' performance rather than seniority.

School board member Yolie Flores said she thinks Deasy's targets are reachable, even during an ongoing budget crisis.

"I don't want to be naïve … but it's doable if he has the right team around him," she said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lausd-20110416,0,1358742.story

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These ambitions all have great intentions--we want the best for our students, we want them to do well in school, and we want them to strive for higher education after graduating from secondary school. 

My concern is if it can all be achieved within four years. In my opinion, it is definitely not doable unless dramatic changes within the school system itself occurs. First of all, with all the budget cuts within education recently, the quality of education our students will receive will eventually decrease in quality. There will be less resources available for students, less teachers which might create larger class size, and less community involvement with non-profit organizations readily available (i.e. after-school programs, etc.). Secondly, to make high achievement inevitable, certain actions might take place. For example, "dumbing down" the curriculum will result in more students passing and graduating high school. "Teaching to the test" to ensure students score at least proficient on the standardized tests is also another option. As all educators know, "dumbing down" the curriculum and "teaching to the test" do not help our students in the long run. "Dumbing down" the curriculum, in  a sense, give the students the assumption that we do not have high expectations for them. We all know that if we have high expectations for our students, they are more likely to achieve at a higher level compared to having low expectations or no expectations at all. As for "teaching to the test," if we emphasize the importance of the results of standardized tests, then it won't allow many teachers to be creative. Also, with so much emphasis on standardized test scores nowadays, teachers rarely have the time to teach more productive and worthwhile lesson plans that will help our students develop critical thinking skills, critical thinking skills needed to survive college life. 

Plus, other than dramatic changes within the school system, the community also has to do their part in creating a safe environment for our students to live in. The environment at home can be an extremely important factor  in student achievement. If they have too many stressful situations to worry about in their personal lives (i.e. crime rates, supporting the family financially, loss of loved ones, etc), then most likely, their education is not going to take priority. Ensuring that our students live in a safe, learning-friendly environment at home can not be achieved within four years. 

Overall, even though the goals might be difficult and far out of reach, there is that possibility however minuscule it might be. Passionate teachers make a difference. Passionate teachers are capable of creating miracles within the classroom, within the school, and within the students. If there are enough passionate teachers overachieving in their jobs, all their efforts put together, may in fact, make a difference when it comes to achieving this goal. 

Praise all passionate teachers out there!