Tell LAUSD to help kids recover by addressing tutoring deserts
LAUSD received billions of dollars in federal and state recovery funding, but only a small portion of that funding is going towards tutoring. It’s clear that Los Angeles families want tutoring, and they need a plan that reaches students this summer 2022 and directly commits to implementing a centrally-run district-wide tutoring program.
To: Board Member Nick Melvoin, Board Member Tanya Ortiz-Franklin, Board Member Jackie Goldberg, Board Member George McKenna, Board Member Kelly Gonez, Board Member Monica Garcia, Board Member Scott Schemerlson, Supt. Carvalho, Chief Academic Officer Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, Chief of Schools David Baca
Parents need LAUSD to implement a centrally-run district-wide tutoring program this summer
Since the return to in-person learning, families have been overwhelmed with a sense of urgency to help our kids get caught up in school. More and more students are disconnecting from school and falling further behind. We’re running out of time to help them recover and thrive. Families need the district to respond now and prioritize implementation of a centrally-run district-wide tutoring program that reaches students in underserved communities this summer 2022.
We know tutoring is a proven way to address unfinished learning, but the reality for our families is that quality tutoring programs are expensive and out-of-reach. There are pockets of tutoring deserts throughout underserved communities in Los Angeles where quality tutoring programs are nearly nonexistent. LAUSD has nearly one billion (over $918M combined) in Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) and Grant funding available to make tutoring an accessible resource for families, yet only 14% of ELO Grant funding is dedicated towards tutoring and none has been spent so far. Additionally, LAUSD has not spent or released spending plans for any of the ELO-P funding.
Fewer than 1 in 10 Los Angeles students have received tutoring and the majority of these tutoring services are locally-designed and school-based, which means tutoring looks different in every school. There is currently no district-wide tutoring program or consistent definition of high-quality tutoring. We need LAUSD to implement a centrally run district-wide tutoring program by summer 2022. These tutoring programs should prioritize the highest needs schools and students by leveraging the existing bench of tutoring providers the district has through the RFP that was released in Fall 2021 by summer 2022.
Parents are asking for centrally-run district-wide tutoring programs that:
- Allow students and tutors to meet on a frequent basis (at least 2-3 times per week)
- Have consistent, well-trained tutors that build strong relationships with students
- Offer 1:1 or small group tutoring (no more than 3 students per tutor)
- Are integrated into school programs
- Are data-driven
Our kids deserve a fair shot. Responding to this crisis and centering the needs of our students will take strong partnership and commitment from our schools, communities, and families. We must work together to restore hope in LAUSD by making sure individualized enrichment opportunities like high-quality tutoring are accessible to our students, especially for those in underserved communities.
Sincerely,
Parents of the Future of L.A.
Innovate Public School Parent Leader Teams and Partners