EDITORIAL : THE DISTRICT'S CHALLENGE DESPITE A PUSH TO IMPROVE LEARNING, LAUSD SCHOOLS ON AVERAGE HAD A DISMAL SHOWING ON STANDARDIZED TESTS.AMID a renewed focus on improving education in California The California education system consists of a full range of public and private schools in California, from the University of California system, to well-known private colleges, to an extensive network of secondary and primary education schools. , the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. released test scores this week showing that its schools on average ranked below the national norm in all subject areas. However, several individual schools exceeded the dismal districtwide showing on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills - a multiple-choice, national standardized test A standardized test is a test administered and scored in a standard manner. The tests are designed in such a way that the "questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent" [1] that covers math, language and reading. Reasons for hope surfaced in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Hale Middle School in Woodland Hills was the undisputed district champion on regular campuses, with its seventh-graders sweeping all subject categories of reading, language and mathematics. And three other Valley area schools - Topanga Elementary School elementary school: see school. in Topanga and El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
Rather than concentrating on the disappointing scores, the district would do well to study its successes, such as those achieved at Hale. Although more than one-quarter of its students are bused in from 145 schools, and students speak a dizzying 32 languages, from Spanish to Farsi, the school has managed to attract more and more children who once attended private schools by having a strong academic reputation. And even though the school is not a LEARN (Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now) campus, it emphasizes teacher collaboration and parent participation - key factors in school reform. Since Principal Jeanie Leighton took over five years ago, she has promoted parental involvement as the key to improving students' test scores. ``Parental involvement is so crucial, I really think that is a big part of our improvement in test scores,'' Leighton said. We commend schools such as Hale and principals such as Leighton for working to improve education under challenging conditions. When the district looks to model programs, it would do well to look to the Valley. |
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