| In terms of numbers, Los Angeles Schools make | | | | better-educated children, and experience other |
| up the second largest public school district in the | | | | social benefits. |
| country. Only New York City Schools top them. | | | | Los Angeles Schools Receive Funds |
| The issues of running any urban system are | | | | As the result of a 2005 lawsuit filed by State |
| complex, but in massive districts the numbers | | | | Schools Chief Jack O'Connell and the California |
| make efforts even more difficult. | | | | Teachers Association, some of the poorest rated |
| Los Angeles Schools Struggle with Graduation | | | | Los Angeles Schools were awarded extra funding |
| Rates | | | | in May of 2007. The lawsuit was filed in 2006 |
| Simply getting students to graduate is a challenge | | | | against California Governor Schwarzenegger and |
| for the Los Angeles Schools. A 2006 USA Today | | | | the California Department of Finance. It alleged |
| study reported that Los Angeles Schools were | | | | that they had failed to appropriately fund |
| among several large urban districts with less than | | | | Proposition 98 during the 2004 to 2006 school |
| 50% of its students gradating from high school on | | | | years. |
| time. That report put the number of graduates in | | | | O'Connell is using the lawsuit's awards to provide |
| Los Angeles Schools at 44.2%. This is well under | | | | $2.7 billion to some of California and Los Angeles |
| the California state graduation rate of 71%. | | | | Schools' highest risk schools. The funds are part |
| Another report released from Princeton University | | | | of a program called the Quality Education |
| in 2005 estimated the lost income of these | | | | Investment Act. The funds will provide chosen |
| dropouts at over $36 billion. These numbers are | | | | Los Angeles Schools with additional per pupil funds |
| not surprising to educators in the Los Angeles | | | | of $500 for k-3rd grade, $900 for 4th through |
| Schools. Numerous studies over the years have | | | | 8th, and $1,000 for 9th through 12th . Los |
| confirmed what Los Angeles Schools teachers | | | | Angeles Schools intend to use the money for |
| know. High School drop-outs are far more likely to | | | | hiring more teachers, addressing class size |
| become teen parents, commit crimes, and use | | | | concerns, professional development, and hiring |
| government funded social and medical services. | | | | in-school counselors. |
| Graduates have higher incomes, raise | | | | |