Nearly 75% of 10th Graders’ Diplomas at Risk at LAUSD
Ineptitude at the highest levels of the system.
L.A. Unified immediately fell behind in its efforts but stuck to its timeline. Former Supt. John Deasy, who resigned in October, repeatedly insisted that requiring students to get a C or better in these classes was necessary for a diploma to be meaningful.
The effort also had unintended consequences. Because students had to repeat some college prep classes, they had more difficulty fulfilling the required total number of units. In response, the district reduced the number of credits required to graduate. It also was more difficult for some schools to schedule advanced courses, such as calculus. And there was less room in class schedules for popular electives that helped keep students interested in school.
At a Tuesday news conference of activists and others, recent graduate Perla Madera, 20, backed the more stringent standards, but said that her high school failed to provide the help she needed.
“During high school, I was consumed by work, school, chores and baby-sitting,” she said. “I quickly fell behind in school. I was labeled as disobedient…. I was not offered help.”
More: LAUSD College Prep Rule Puts Nearly 75% of 10th Graders’ Diplomas at Risk