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