Algebra and leadership teacher Kris Penny-Rogers cleans desktops at Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies while prepping for the start of school on Tuesday. (Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News) (null)
The start of classes Tuesday will launch a watershed year for Los Angeles Unified as it rolls out a new curriculum, toughens its graduation requirements and launches an innovative system for dealing with disruptive students.
Coupled with the introduction of iPads-for-all at nearly four dozen schools and the newly approved waiver of the federal No Child Left Behind law, the innovations slated to begin in 2013-14 are expected to transform the educational system for students, teachers and administrators.
"I'm unaware of a moment in public education -- save the time when compulsory attendance went in and when we desegregated our schools -- like the next two years," LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy said. "It's a very big deal."
Driving each of the district initiatives is the desire to have all LAUSD students graduate "college- and career-ready," with the knowledge, skills and ability to support themselves and a family in the years ahead. That means keeping kids in school, getting them help when they struggle and ensuring that all students can get a top-notch education, no matter which campus they attend.
That's also the goal of the Common Core curriculum, the first-ever nationwide set of English and math standards