L.A. School Board Orders Zacarias to Devise 5-Year Plan

The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday ordered Supt. Ruben Zacarias to devise a comprehensive, five-year plan that charts a new course for the city’s public school system and its 700,000 students.

Acting on a motion by board member Caprice Young, the board asked Zacarias to present it with a draft of the plan by January. The effort is expected to take into account economic, demographic and social trends; student outcomes and instructional programs; facilities; financial matters, and legislative affairs and technology.

“Right now, there is a facilities master plan, a legislative plan, a seven points progress program, a technology plan, a reading plan and a math plan,” said Young’s field representative, Jason Greenwald. “The strategic plan answers this big question: How can we ensure that all these plans overlap in appropriate ways and focus on the single end goal, student achievement?”