| Many, many people live in Los Angeles. As of | | | | out students who are even more prepared to |
| the latest census there were an estimated | | | | enter college or the workforce than the |
| 9,948,081 people living there. Los Angeles | | | | previous generation of students. |
| covers a land area of 4,061 square miles, | | | | |
| with 2,344 persons occupying each of those | | | | More effective Los Angeles Schools teachers |
| areas. It goes without saying that this is a | | | | are those who have attended inservice |
| lot of people! Several of these residents | | | | training, and have learned about "best |
| have children; 27.6% of these residents are | | | | teaching practices"; a national philosophy of |
| persons from 5 years old to 18 years old. | | | | teaching that attempts to give all students |
| That's a lot of kids…over 710,000 to be | | | | the attention they need and deserve in a |
| exact. These students attend one of the many | | | | safe, effective learning environment. Giving |
| Los Angeles Schools, where they are served by | | | | extra attention to students in need, such as |
| the Los Angeles Schools 74,000 district | | | | those who have fallen behind in school is the |
| employees. | | | | 3rd goal of the project. Los Angeles Schools |
| | | | want all their students to succeed; but some |
| With so many "clients" to serve, Los Angeles | | | | students need more help reaching this goal |
| Schools need lots of help, and plenty of it | | | | than others. More teachers, innovative |
| comes from grants, state funding, and | | | | curriculum, and special programs are |
| donations from private organizations. While | | | | necessary to help these students reach their |
| money won't solve all the issues, it is | | | | potential. |
| indeed an important component in the quest to | | | | |
| improve the education provided by Los Angeles | | | | In a city that is home to Hollywood, one |
| Public Schools. | | | | would expect there to be an excellent Arts |
| | | | program. The school system serving Los |
| For example, a new project, entitled "Ed in | | | | Angeles Schools works diligently to make this |
| '08" has started. Named "Strong American | | | | happen. In fact, recent and highly |
| Schools" and partly funded by the Bill and | | | | significant state allocations to the Visual |
| Melinda Gates Foundation, "Ed in '08" has a | | | | and Performing Arts education have been made. |
| platform based on higher standards, more | | | | Nearly $47 million will go to the Los |
| effective teaching, and extra attention to | | | | Angeles Schools, and is earmarked for dance, |
| Los Angeles Schools students who need it. The | | | | music, theatre, and visual arts instruction. |
| campaign hopes to inspire voters to force | | | | Los Angeles Schools have a great interest in |
| presidential candidates from both parties to | | | | graduating students who are skilled in these |
| make education the top priority and to take | | | | areas; why not use hometown talent to drive |
| up its agenda. Higher standards for students | | | | the movie business? |
| means that the Los Angeles Schools will turn | | | | |