Individualized Learning
LA Unified must move away from the "one size fits all" educational philosophy that often guides curriculum and learning. Specifically, we must individualize learning for our second language learners, our Special Education students, and our most advanced students.
Second Language Learning: With approximately 40% of LA Unified students learning English as a second language, our District has more second language learners than any major district in the country. Yet the District falls short in providing students with the opportunity to gain academic language proficiency. As a School Board member, I would place greater resources on early language acquisition programs as well as intervention programs for secondary students lacking English proficiency.
Special Education: Despite serious-minded efforts to implement legally-required programs related to Special Education students, the District fails to support programs for Special Education students that are truly individualized. In my teaching experience, I have found that large class sizes often prevent teachers from working closely with Special Education students to implement many of the recommendations found in each student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). As a board member, I would support greater amounts of training for teachers in working with the Special Education population and absolute caps on class sizes to make individual intervention possible.
AP/Honors Classes: While the District has made strides in expanding offering of AP and Honors classes, much more needs to be done. As a teacher of AP classes at Fairfax, I have found that AP classes offer the rigor and challenge that benefits many students - including those that are not the very top students in a particular school. The District needs to support additional training of teachers in AP classes so that a wider range of AP classes can be offered. There also needs to be greater emphasis on recruiting a racially and ethnically diverse group of students into AP classes.
