Following our story and follow-up on Los Angeles Unified's quiet plans to limit the ability of students to leave the school district and transfer to other public campuses, LAUSD has released an official announcement of the new policy.
The move will save the district $51 million, Superintendent Ramon Cortines estimates. He's trying to close a $640 million budget gap.
But the new policy has angered thousands of parents who blanch at the thought of sending their children to neighborhood LAUSD campuses. Many of the 12,249 kids on inter-district permits go to South Bay schools.
The full press release is after the jump.
LAUSD REVISES INTER-DISTRICT TRANSFER POLICY
Decision Could Bring Approximately $51 Million in New revenue
LOS ANGELES-- In order to respond to the devastating budget crisis faced by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the District has revised its policy on the issuance of Inter-District Permits. The Permit program has traditionally allowed parents and guardians the ability to have their children attend schools outside of the District's boundaries. Under the current policy, LAUSD loses approximately $51 million each year that could go to help maintain class size and save teacher jobs.
"Just about every school district in the Los Angeles area is experiencing massive budget deficits but ours is the largest at $640 million," said Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines. "It is time to bring our students home to LAUSD where we still have plenty of excellent schools for them to attend and we have great teachers to instruct them.
"LAUSD has made great strides in improving the educational options for students who reside within the boundaries of our school district," he continued. "We have a number of educational options for students who reside within the boundaries of our school district including: award-winning magnet programs and a number of California Distinguished Schools, small schools and small learning communities, as well as high-performing campuses with personalized learning experiences.
"Additionally, we have invested $14 billion in constructing 87 brand new schools and have completed nearly 20,000 modernization projects designed to promote positive educational learning environments and excellence in academic achievement," Cortines added. "In light of these improvements, I have asked staff to implement a permit policy that limits the types of permits issued to students and families requesting attendance in other school districts. However, every request for a transfer will be individually reviewed and evaluated in its own merit."
The LAUSD will limit out-going, inter-district permits to Parent Employment and Senior Status. Parent Employment Permits are allowed for students whose parent/guardian is physically employed within the boundaries of another school district. Senior Status Permits will be issued to allow students to complete the final year at their school of attendance at their current elementary, middle or high school (e.g., 5th, 8th and 12th grade). Parents/guardians may still submit applications for permits to attend unique educational programs or exceptions for permits that fall outside of the two conditions described above. Those applications will be reviewed individually and evaluated on their own merit.
If a permit request is denied, parents/guardians will be informed of appeal procedures by the District. Parents/guardians have the right to appeal permit application decisions through the LAUSD Office of Permits and Student Transfers, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (www.lacoe.edu).
A letter will be sent to parents and guardians affected by the new policy change informing them of the many educational opportunities afforded to them. These include attending the school of residence, obtaining permission to attend another school within the District's boundaries, using the Open Enrollment process and applying for magnet schools in the future.
In the past, the LAUSD has offered different types of permits based on child care, continuing enrollment and others. This has allowed many students to leave the District. Last year, the LAUSD released 12,249 students to other school districts.
For further information regarding Inter-District Transfers, contact the Office of Permits and Student Transfers at (213) 745-1960.
Tayina Tate, please understand the issue before making such comments. The school districts that accept LAUSD students do so because it is in there best interest to do so. They WANT the students.
For example: Torrance USD board president Mark Steffen is quoted as saying ""It's really concerning, permit kids bring dollars into our schools. It just means more cuts, higher class sizes and less teachers.''
Culver City HS teachers have "already been told some class offerings, made possible by a student body swelled with LAUSD residents, will not be offered next fall."
So instead of being smug about your housing choice - understand that your students education will be suffer because these students are being kicked out.
Non LAUSD districts use the LA students to fill up classrooms and schools that would otherwise not have enough local students exactly because the home prices are too high to allow families with young children the opportunity to move in.
I think that this a great idea. People should consider the schools that their children will attend before purchasing or renting a home. It really annoys me that the schools in my district have so many students from outside our district. These people are getting the benefits of the schols in my area without having to pay the high home purchase price or the high rent that it takes to live within the boundaries of this distrct. My husband and I have made many sacrifices to make sure that our children will be able to attend a good local public school. Other parents should consider making sacrifices so that their children will be able to have access to good public schools in their area.
Um, Mr. Corines, if you can't fix your ed programs, maybe you should stop spending money to build and modernize facilities that nobody wants to attend. Talk about bass-ackward planning. Now that your district has screwed up, you want to FORCE families to comply with your ridiculous plan. Drop the sticks and start trying carrots. You might be surprised how well they work.
As Jill so eloquently states above, STOP TRYING TO BALANCE YOUR MISTAKES ON THE BACKS OF OUR INNOCENT CHILDREN.
How about our children who have been attending school in Santa Monica their whole life and only recently moved just outside the Santa Monica City line...you want to pull them away from all they know? They're going to punish them for living 40 feet from Santa Monica? As a family we've put hours and hours into our Santa Monica school community and our children should have the right to continue their education here.
If you live in LA, please go to your local school. I am tired of my Santa Monica parcel tax beign used to underwrite LAUSD students in my community schools. I want true "Community" schools, not "Commuter" schools. I have over 500 LAUSD students commuting into Santa Moinca each day. No thanks!! I have to say Thank you Mr. Cortines for stopping this nightmare of printing permits. It is time to stop.
If there were 12,249 permits issued last year by LAUSD shouldn't there be approximately that many angry students and their parents? What would happen if 24,000+ people desended upon the next Board Meeting? Would we be allowed to speak? Could we get press coverage? We will only be heard if we respond/protest en mass. I understand there is a LAUSD Board meeting this Tues. March 23 at 1:00pm at 333 South Beaudrey Avenue. I plan to be there.
I urge South Bay and Culver City area parents to join with Santa Monica area parents on the facebook (link above) group "Stop LAUD From Denying Permits for Inter-District Student Transfers" There is up to date information. We have greater strength in numbers. The phone calls, emails and letters to LAUSD and County Board of Supervisors must get going. We are considering litigation, too.
Re: magnet schools.
Shhh. Don't tell anyone but if you're white you're in because of the racial-balancing quota...
Right on, Jill! $ 14 billion. 87 schools. 1000's of programs. Typical bureaucratese accounting, how many boondoggles like Belmont Learning Center? How many postions where people never show up except to collect a check?
Until I see a full accounting and some honest answers, and more personalized treatment and instruction, appealing appealing appealing we will go. I was really disappointed when the move in the Valley and San Pedro to break up LA fell apart. Bleccch!
Unfortunately it is too late to apply to other programs at this time. Also, magnet schools require points, which if you are like me you lost when you left the district. What are we to do with Cortines' comment regarding that? He just doesn't get it. STOP TRYING TO BALANCE YOUR MISTAKES ON THE BACKS OF OUR INNOCENT CHILDREN.