The LAAMP/LEARN Regional School Alliance wants to know your views on the recent Los Angeles Unified School District decentralization plan.

A message from Robin M. Kramer, President, LAAMP/LEARN Regional Alliance

The LAAMP/Learn Regional School Reform Alliance soon will submit a series of recommendations identifying ways to improve the recent decentralization plan submitted by Superintendent Ramon Cortines. The plan calls for major organizational changes in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Released ten days ago, it reconstitutes the central office as a tactical support, service and compliance monitoring system. It would create 11 local or "mini" districts with control over resources, autonomy to make the vast majority of decisions about the instruction of children, and accountability for improving student achievement. The plan also would focus the district's instructional and development priorities on reading at all levels.

On March 20, the LAAMP/Learn Regional School Reform Alliance convened a panel of school and community leaders committed to reform to evaluate the Superintendent's plan. The Alliance considered three questions in its review:

• Will the plan advance student achievement, our number one goal?
• Will it advance the cause of creating semi-autonomous, school-based units, authentically pushing authority over budget and staff decisions to the place closest to students?
• Does the plan rest upon strategies which (in the experience of school reform practitioners) are sensible, create stability and true accountability, and include needed training and support?

Based on that assessment, the Alliance concluded that the plan is a good start in initiating urgently needed change - especially reform of the central office through decentralization. But the Alliance identified some elements critical to the success of long-term, comprehensive reform. The Alliance wants to know your opinion. You may click here to record your views. If you have questions, please call the Alliance at (323) 255-3276.

	Related Links Click here to view and/or respond to the LAAMP/LEARN survey about LAUSD reorganization. Visit the LEARN Web site

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