11:00am | A Los Angeles Times editorial about effective urban school districts today recognizes the Long Beach Unified School District for its efforts to close the achievement gap by “using approaches that make such obvious sense, it would amaze parents to know that these aren’t the norm everywhere.” Click here to read the piece.
The author is Heather Zadavsky, a policy director and former consultant for the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation which recognizes the nation’s best urban school districts each year. LBUSD has been a staple fixture in the Broad Prize award process for its success in reducing the achievement gap.
Zadavsky also recognized districts in Garden Grove, Massachusetts, Virginia and Texas. She outlines five “common-sense steps” utilized in each district that sets them apart. Zadavsky writes:
California is applying once again for Race to the Top funds. Whether or not its bid succeeds, its plan for the future should include prodding troubled urban school districts to adopt the sensible, student-centered efforts that have worked in the nation’s most improved districts.
Recently, the LBUSD was an instrumental figure in drafting California’s new application for federal Race To The Top funds after the state was denied last year. It is one of five statewide districts involved in the funding competition and experts say the chances are much higher for success this year.