A presentation of a pilot research project recording teacher perceptions of LAUSD's Public School Choice process.

1. Examining Public School Choice in LAUSD Scott Petri CSUN ELPS 780 May 11, 2011

2. Requires the District to solicit new operational and instructional plans for new schools and schools that have been in Program Improvement for more than 3 years to create more schools of choice and educational options.

3. Research Questions : How do teachers describe their involvement on Public School Choice writing teams? What areas of difficulty do teacher-led teams navigate on their journey from writing proposals to plan implementation?

6. Observation of Public School Choice Plan Presentation/Advisory Vote Meeting Teachers presented three competing plans to the school community. League of Women Voters presented Advisory Vote Procedures.

7. Document Analysis : Coding evaluator comments and Superintendent recommendations. Proposals and Rubrics containing 838 pages of information.

8. Qualitative Interview with one teacher. Ideally interview one from each writing team.

9. Evaluator Comments of School Plan HPCHS (Reform Coalition) Academy model proposed, yet no plans for each individual academy. No evidence team has thought out curriculum needs for comprehensive high school. Many elements are not well-defined. Unclear how well team understands the elements they propose. Little evidence that the plan will be successfully implemented.

10. Evaluator Comments of School Plan HPCIP (Community in Partnership) Instructional plan lacks vision and depth. Includes practices and strategies already in place at the school, which are not working. Plan fails to clearly articulate a philosophy of education, instruction or assessment. Plan does not include HPHS data to justify instructional approach proposed. No evidence team engaged families in design of school. No evidence that team has capacity to improve instruction. Little evidence that the plan will be successfully implemented.

11. Evaluator Comments of School Plan HPHS21 (Network of 21 st Century Schools) Plan lacks specificity. Neglects how numerous programs and strategies will coalesce into one instructional program. Plan almost completely ignores students in grades 11 and 12. Assessment plan lacks rigor and is too vague. PD plan is not directly aligned to student assessment and achievement. Little evidence that the plan will be successfully implemented.

14. Positive Teacher Comments The good things were, I think, it actually gives you an opportunity to address the instruction that’s going on in the classroom at school. And get in touch with it and start to implement some of the latest, greatest research-based methods, of which many of our instructors are out of touch with (Interview, April 29, 2011).

15. Negative Teacher Comments It [PSC] tends to pit colleague against colleague and it creates division. I know this not only at our school but other schools. It creates factions, strife, tension, worry. It puts people on a rollercoaster of emotions that do not assist in keeping calm, cool attitudes with the students from day to day (Interview, April 29, 2011).