Lots Riding on the Los Angeles Unified School District

Many, many people live in Los Angeles. As of thestudents who are even more prepared to enter
latest census there were an estimated 9,948,081college or the workforce than the previous
people living there. Los Angeles covers a land areageneration of students.
of 4,061 square miles, with 2,344 personsMore effective Los Angeles Schools teachers are
occupying each of those areas. It goes withoutthose who have attended inservice training, and
saying that this is a lot of people! Several of thesehave learned about "best teaching practices"; a
residents have children; 27.6% of these residentsnational philosophy of teaching that attempts to
are persons from 5 years old to 18 years old.give all students the attention they need and
That's a lot of kids…over 710,000 to bedeserve in a safe, effective learning environment.
exact. These students attend one of the manyGiving extra attention to students in need, such
Los Angeles Schools, where they are served byas those who have fallen behind in school is the
the Los Angeles Schools 74,000 district3rd goal of the project. Los Angeles Schools want
employees.all their students to succeed; but some students
With so many "clients" to serve, Los Angelesneed more help reaching this goal than others.
Schools need lots of help, and plenty of it comesMore teachers, innovative curriculum, and special
from grants, state funding, and donations fromprograms are necessary to help these students
private organizations. While money won't solve allreach their potential.
the issues, it is indeed an important component inIn a city that is home to Hollywood, one would
the quest to improve the education provided byexpect there to be an excellent Arts program.
Los Angeles Public Schools.The school system serving Los Angeles Schools
For example, a new project, entitled "Ed in '08"works diligently to make this happen. In fact,
has started. Named "Strong American Schools"recent and highly significant state allocations to the
and partly funded by the Bill and Melinda GatesVisual and Performing Arts education have been
Foundation, "Ed in '08" has a platform based onmade. Nearly $47 million will go to the Los Angeles
higher standards, more effective teaching, andSchools, and is earmarked for dance, music,
extra attention to Los Angeles Schools studentstheatre, and visual arts instruction. Los Angeles
who need it. The campaign hopes to inspireSchools have a great interest in graduating
voters to force presidential candidates from bothstudents who are skilled in these areas; why not
parties to make education the top priority and touse hometown talent to drive the movie
take up its agenda. Higher standards for studentsbusiness?
means that the Los Angeles Schools will turn out