LA Unified school board member wants changes to California's Parent Trigger law
California’s Parent Trigger law has been used five times to try and overhaul low-performing schools. Three of those were in the L.A. Unified School District. School board member Steve Zimmer has proposed a resolution up for a vote at Tuesday’s meeting calling for new restrictions.
Under the Parent Trigger law, when a majority of parents sign a petition, those parents get to decide how to restructure a school where test scores fall far below the state average.
Reforms can include removing the principal, asking a charter school company to run it, or other changes.
Board member Steve Zimmer believes the process is flawed.
“I’m concerned that everyone has access to accurate information. I’m concerned that everybody gets to participate in the process," Zimmer said. "I’m concerned that we’re focusing on the schools that objectively need this type of transformation the most.”
His resolution would ask state legislators to change the law and give all parents a say in the transformation method.