| Who wouldn't love to live in sunny L.A.? The beach, the | | | | Jacob Levin. Jacob is a senior at North Hollywood High |
| movie stars, the extremely crowded schools, poor | | | | School, who argues that "school districts [are] |
| school maintenance, and incompetent | | | | hamstrung from providing better student services by a |
| administration...Actually, a significant number of the | | | | federal government that underfunds education." Levin |
| district's schools do not possess such conditions, | | | | adds, "You can't expect to have an education system |
| despite the reputation of Los Angeles Schools. There | | | | that works if you don't give kids the money they need |
| really are many good things about Los Angeles | | | | to be able to get to college." Another star in the Los |
| Schools. First of all, former Superintendent Roy Romer | | | | Angeles Schools district is the recent and highly |
| is staying involved by heading up "Ed in '08", a project | | | | significant state allocations to the Visual and |
| of Strong American Schools. Partly funded by the Bill | | | | Performing Arts education. Nearly $47 million will go to |
| and Melinda Gates Foundation, "Ed in '08" has a | | | | the Los Angeles Schools, and is earmarked for dance, |
| platform based on higher standards, more effective | | | | music, theatre, and visual arts instruction. The funding |
| teaching, and extra attention to students who need it. | | | | comes from two sources. One is a grant of $28 million |
| The campaign hopes to inspire voters to force | | | | that will be given to individual Los Angeles Schools. |
| presidential candidates from both parties to make | | | | This works out to approximately $50 per student. |
| education the top priority and to take up its agenda. | | | | Current allocation is about $8 per student. Grant |
| The project is in good hands with Romer who, during | | | | money may only be used for materials, supplies, and |
| his 6-year stint as the Los Angeles Schools | | | | teacher training. Schools cannot upgrade facilities or |
| Superintendent, helped to open two new high schools | | | | hire new instructors. The second funding source ($11.3 |
| in 2005, four in 2006, and set plans in motion for over | | | | million) will be dispersed through the Los Angeles |
| 160 schools to be constructed, expanded, or | | | | Schools Arts Education Branch. Parents who want to |
| completely refurbished by 2012. The El Camino Real | | | | influence how their school uses its Arts money need |
| High School Academic Decathlon team in Woodland | | | | to be vocal and get involved. The money is there; now |
| Hills is another star feature of Los Angeles Schools. | | | | all that needs to be done is to spend it wisely. The Los |
| This year's championship took place in Honolulu, HI. | | | | Angeles Schools district is huge; it is the largest public |
| Despite amazing beauty and nearly limitless | | | | school system in California, and the second largest in |
| opportunities for fun, the representatives of Los | | | | the nation. It serves over 710,000 students, and has |
| Angeles Schools devote most of their time to | | | | over 74,000 employees. The Student Handbook is |
| pre-competition cramming. It all paid off, for these | | | | available in 7 different languages: English, Spanish, |
| students took top prize, and earned glory for | | | | Korean, Armenian, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese. |
| themselves, their school, and all the Los Angeles | | | | With its size and diversity, it's no wonder that Los |
| Schools they represent. Within the past 6 years, the | | | | Angeles Schools have all these stars! |
| Los Angeles Schools district has built more new | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| schools than in the previous 60 years, but also | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| suffered a dropout rate that may be as high as 50%. | | | | private K-12 schools. |
| In response, meet another Los Angeles Schools star, | | | | |