:-/
I researched more into the proposed plan. From what I read, the requirements might become even more stricter and more aligned to A-Gs.
1) The district's passing grade is already a D. The times was flat out wrong on this one. The district's proposal instead plans to eliminate Ds because they are not accepted by the CSUs and UCs. Something which NOW Academy's Mr. Deligencia and the Math department has already adopted.
2) The district plans to raise the minimum Math years From two years to three years making Algebra 2 a mandatory class something we already aim to program students into.
3) The district plans to add 2 years of Foreign Langauge as a requirement rather than being an "elective" for LAUSD. Currently, Foreign Language is not a district requirement but it is an A-G requirement.
4) The district wants to do away with Applied Technology and Health out of the requirements. Hhmmmm... I son't know how I feel about this.
5) The district wants to lower the 70 unit elective to 10 college preparatory elective.
6) The district wants to lower the number of credits required from 230 to 180 so that students can focus on passing the core-classes.
7) PE and the extra year of social studies remain because they are state requirements.
===MY THOUGHTS===
If these new curricular standards are adopted, this will definitely change our schools' master schedule even more which we are already hard at work. why can't the district ever put a policy out that isn't at the end of a school year.
It sounds like the district wants to align its requirements to the A-G requirements which is indeed raising the requirements which sounds reasonably like it is raising the standards. I'm not quite sure about Lowering the number of credits though.
If we do adopt these standards, I wonder if it will create a "gentrification effect" of sorts in which a number of students would be pushed off into the adults school's 170 diploma track. While I am all for the tougher requirements, I really won't if this will mean that LAUSD will become more college-elitist rather than college-preparatory.
I wonder if by doing this, Adult Ed will also raise its standards to align to the new District proposal. As it stands right now, Adult Ed has a diploma track that allows its students to graduate with 170 credits. Will this force students to be tracked into either adult Ed or regular school even further. Is this new rigor simply going to split Los Angeles' students to the haves and have-nots.
I also wonder if this change is not somehow monetarily tied. Less credits means leass classes needed means less teachers means saving money. Hmmm... Yes, I'm jaded as to how altruistic the district is really being... This talk has gone on for years, but with the budget crisis, this seems the most convenient time to implement this new requirement. This will save them a lot of money.
While I support raising standards, I wish the conversation would instead turn to meaningful standards, adopting curricular practices that are relevant, enriching and actualizing for our students. It's not just about outcomes, it's about processes. It's about the journey and not just funneling our students to college. The high school experience does matter. It's not just a stepping stone to college.
I wish that the district would have more relevant requirement than just the A-Gs. What if they had diversity or social justice requirement much like the UCs have on their campuses, a college/career requirement, an outdoor education requirement, an internship requirement, a project-based requirement, and an exhibition requirement. I wish that the conversation would turn more into holistic, inquiry-based and integrative curriculum instead of just changing the requirements to match the A-Gs (which, yes, I support).
I should start a school... anyone interested?
LA Times
CBS Article
Daily News
InvestmentWatchBlog
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