| In terms of numbers, Los Angeles Schools make | | | | Governor Schwarzenegger and the California |
| up the second largest public school district | | | | Department of Finance. It alleged that they |
| in the country. Only New York City Schools | | | | had failed to appropriately fund Proposition |
| top them. The issues of running any urban | | | | 98 during the 2004 to 2006 school years. |
| system are complex, but in massive districts | | | | O'Connell is using the lawsuit's awards to |
| the numbers make efforts even more difficult. | | | | provide $2.7 billion to some of California |
| Los Angeles Schools Struggle with Graduation | | | | and Los Angeles Schools' highest risk |
| Rates Simply getting students to graduate is | | | | schools. The funds are part of a program |
| a challenge for the Los Angeles Schools. A | | | | called the Quality Education Investment Act. |
| 2006 USA Today study reported that Los | | | | The funds will provide chosen Los Angeles |
| Angeles Schools were among several large | | | | Schools with additional per pupil funds of |
| urban districts with less than 50% of its | | | | $500 for k-3rd grade, $900 for 4th through |
| students gradating from high school on time. | | | | 8th, and $1,000 for 9th through 12th . Los |
| That report put the number of graduates in | | | | Angeles Schools intend to use the money for |
| Los Angeles Schools at 44.2%. This is well | | | | hiring more teachers, addressing class size |
| under the California state graduation rate of | | | | concerns, professional development, and |
| 71%. Another report released from Princeton | | | | hiring in-school counselors. Los Angeles |
| University in 2005 estimated the lost income | | | | Schools are in need in many areas. The |
| of these dropouts at over $36 billion. These | | | | national achievement gap is huge here because |
| numbers are not surprising to educators in | | | | of a large population of English Language |
| the Los Angeles Schools. Numerous studies | | | | Learners, and a low socio-economic |
| over the years have confirmed what Los | | | | population. One concern of the Princeton |
| Angeles Schools teachers know. High School | | | | study mentioned above is that it pointed out |
| drop-outs are far more likely to become teen | | | | huge discrepancies in graduation rates |
| parents, commit crimes, and use government | | | | between white and non-white students. |
| funded social and medical services. Graduates | | | | African-American students and Hispanic |
| have higher incomes, raise better-educated | | | | students have the lowest graduation rates; |
| children, and experience other social | | | | and Los Angeles Schools are largely made up |
| benefits. Los Angeles Schools Receive Funds | | | | of these student minorities. Over 100 Los |
| As the result of a 2005 lawsuit filed by | | | | Angeles Schools will receive the additional |
| State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell and the | | | | funds over the next seven years. |
| California Teachers Association, some of the | | | | |
| poorest rated Los Angeles Schools were | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools |
| awarded extra funding in May of 2007. The | | | | K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all |
| lawsuit was filed in 2006 against California | | | | U.S. public and private K-12 schools. |