Burbank educators closer to approving ‘LCAP’ plan
Burbank educators are closing in on a three-year plan that has been months in the making and lists priorities for how they spend state dollars, which have been increasing recently following years of cuts.
The Local Control and Accountability Plan, commonly known as LCAP — came together in the past several months following a series of meetings in which parents, community members and educators discussed how state education money should be spent on Burbank kids.
The plans are state mandated as part of Gov. Jerry Brown’s new funding model, which increases money for education and requires local stakeholders to have a voice about how the funds are spent.
The 2014-15 school year marks the second consecutive year that school districts will see increased state funding.
The 50-page plan will go before the Burbank Unified school board one more time. The district must send an approved plan to the Los Angeles County Office of Education by July 1.
Among the local plan’s objectives, district officials will hire full-time curriculum specialists to work at each of the 11 elementary schools.
Educators also hope to increase student enrollment in advanced placement or honors classes by about 3% each year.
The district plans to add five academic counselors — one at each of high schools and middle schools.
Three more custodians could be hired over the next three years, according to the plan, in addition to three additional nurses and one behavior specialist.
Burbank Unified’s list entails nine goals: increase academic achievement in English and math for all students and targeted subgroups, align instruction to the new Common Core standards, increase students’ access to arts and music education, prepare them for college and careers, create a plan for teachers’ training, create a sense of belonging for all students, improve access to technology and maintain safe learning environments.
Each of the goals carries equal weight, said Hani Youssef, director of student services for Burbank Unified, who has sat at the helm of the plan’s development.
“Any goal that we create has to be measurable,” Youssef said, adding that the district would continue to monitor its success with its ongoing implementation over the next three years, starting this fall.
“We know this is a living, breathing document,” Youssef said. “As we go along, it will be revised.”
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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.
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