Media Contacts: Ronald Simms Jr., Senior Manager of Communications, Catalyst California 202-270-0936Julio Esperias, Communications Manager, Community Coalition 424-409-1752Esthefanie Solano, Communications…
Desired Impact
We believe public education plays a significant role in eliminating poverty and racism for the future of all Angelenos.
The Key Issue
A major problem is the historic disinvestment in schools that has led to under resourced and constrained schools perpetuating inequity for Black and Latino students, often rendering them invisible. This has only solidified the achievement gap.
In addition, issues like gun violence, trauma and asthma substantially produce negative effects on our student’s ability to learn. The Department of Public Health (DPH) has submitted a letter with supporting evidence and research which highlight the negative effects these conditions have on student learning and achievement.
Today we see an unconscionable concentration of high and highest-need schools in parts of the district, thus we need a concentration of resources to address those specific needs of high and highest-need school in particular regions of the district.
Our Ask
- The kids earned this funding! Starting from 2013 they have earned over $1 billion per year through LCFF (local control funding formula).
- The Governor is proposing to fully fund LCFF this year reinforcing his statement, “equal treatment for children in unequal situations is not justice.” We ask LAUSD to adopt the “SENI 2.0” (Students Equity Needs Index) as the primary means for identifying high and highest-needs schools allocating LCFF investments.
- SENI 2.0 is ready for use! We must leverage this improved equity funding tool and begin focusing on our concentration of high and highest-need Elementary, Middle and High Schools to improve enrollment and increase funding.
- We have been negotiating the indicators with LAUSD for over a year. We are open to some adjustment but for the most part it is ready for use.
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In May 2021, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board members passed the Equity is Justice 2021 Resolution to distribute an additional $700 million to schools using the Student Equity Needs Index (SENI). With this increased funding, schools will have expanded access to critical supports including psychiatric social workers, intervention coordinators, attendance counselors, planning time for teachers, and other vital interventions.
This $700 million investment demonstrates the board’s commitment to the educational equity we need to keep building.
Since the start of the pandemic and beginning of distance learning, students and their families have faced multiple barriers to education, including lack of internet access to disengagement. To learn about how LAUSD can foster an equitable recovery for our Black and Brown students, who have been hit hardest by the pandemic, check out our Racial Justice Equity Plan to Recovery .
