Elizabeth Romero / commentary
November 4, 2013

Elizabeth Romero

Elizabeth Romero

As a parent in San Bernardino, I celebrated the passage of Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the delivery I believed our land was making to back up low-income students, English learners, and foster youth with the additional programs, services, and resource they need to be successful. I also celebrated the focus on local decision making and the opportunity for parents like me to be involved in improving teaching in San Bernardino.

But today, I am not jubilant. Today, I am worried that Local Control Funding Formula will fall short of its promises, based on the draft regulations that have been sent to the Land Board of Didactics for their review on November 7.

I am worried that the regulations will non require districts to do as the law says – to spend LCFF money to provide more support and services to students who accept not been served by our current system. That is what will be needed to improve their achievement. I am also worried that districts won't be required to provide parents like me with the data I need to track funding and be a real partner in local decision making.

For the promise of local decision making to be realized, districts must practice things differently than they accept. That means more than just having parents sign on to a program that others have adult. Information technology means more than property a few public hearings in a district part far away from our schools and neighborhood. It means creating time and space for real participation.  I am not an expert at drafting regulations, simply I practice know what it takes to involve parents. We need:

  • Clear and hands accessible information, especially nearly funding and achievement;
  • Democratic representation on district committees and then all voices tin exist heard;
  • Translation of all written materials and during meetings;
  • Meetings held in locations and at times that allow parents like me to participate.

These are merely a few specific ways in which the state could provide clear direction and examples to districts. The state should also exist a model for what it means to invite parents, students, and community to be partners in making decisions. And so far, that hasn't really happened. The country'south implementation working grouping did not include parents of English learners, depression-income students, or foster youth – or the students themselves.

That's a problem. As long as nosotros are not at the table, schools and districts, and even the land will go on to make the same decisions over and over once more – decisions that accept not supported or benefited all children equally.

I have five children attending San Bernardino schools, and a son who graduated from the district and is now attending Cal Country San Bernardino. Through my involvement in my district I have seen first-hand the challenges facing students, especially English language learners, many of whom are also low-income. Too many of our students go through school and never go reclassified equally skillful in English. That means they never get the courses they demand to get straight to college correct after graduation.

This is a serious trouble in San Bernardino and around the state. Funds available through Local Control Funding Formula can and should be used to support these students through programs and services that will assist them to be reclassified as fluent in English and to go enrolled in courses they demand to graduate loftier school ready for higher. That is what I desire for my children – information technology is what all parents I work with want for their children.

With local control funding formula we have a chance – all of u.s. – to do things differently. We accept a chance to do things improve.

I hope and pray our officials accept the courage to practise what information technology takes to help usa all realize the hope of this historic reform.

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Elizabeth Romero is the mother of vi children a parent leader with Inland Congregations United for Change, function of PICO California.

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