2. Doors opened High academic achievement 1968-1980 Became a charter Declining test scores Student and community activism 1980-2000 Enrollment increase Declining scores Lost accreditation Enrollment decrease Up for reconstitution 2000-2010 Crenshaw High School: Background

3. Research Methodology and Data Collection  Qualitative Conducted interviews Audio transcriptions Video transcriptions Field observations  Quantitative Conducted surveys Demographic data  Research tools - camera, camcorder, internet sites, audio recorders, time stamp, note taking, and interview questions

4. Schools that fail to meet the No Child Left Behind grant and state requirements for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) of students’ standardized test scores for two consecutive years. Program Improvement Schools

5. What is AYP?  AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) is a nationwide accountability report, which ensures that schools make annual improvements in the areas of: Participation rate (in English & Math) Percent proficient (in English & Math) Graduation rate Source: www.ayp.cde.gov

6. Crenshaw High School English and Math Proficiency Rates Source: www.ayp.cde.gov

7. Drop Out / Grad Rate LAUSD 2007-08 Source: www.lausd.edu

8. What is reconstitution?  Teacher and staff displacement  Potential third party management “In the next four years, with superintendent Cortines, Monica Garcia and the Los Angeles School Board on my side, I will lead an effort to shut down failing schools and reconstitute these schools as charters, as partnership campuses or as district schools committed to metrics-driven, measurable progress.” -Mayor Villaraigosa

9. Reconstitution “ Fremont is one of underperforming schools and its not the only one being targeted” [Reporter]… …Well I’m looking at Crenshaw, I’m looking at Garfield, I’m looking at Lincoln. Those are some of the schools I’m looking at” [R. Cortinez, Superintendent]

10. CRENSHAW HASN’T BEEN MEETING AYP CRITERIA CRENSHAW LOSES ACCREDITATION RECONSTITUTION The Significance of AYP to Crenshaw High School

11. Crenshaw is in a state of Emergency!!!

12. “Man, I don’t know where to go for information, its important for us to know what’s going! The school depends on us!.. Per Pupil Funding? Never heard of it. There isn’t anywhere to voice your opinion! Especially when no-ones informing us! At least not informing me.” - Preston (student) Claim One There is a disconnect between students and faculty about funding & the future governance of our school. “I’m not really aware of the direct impact on them (the students), they haven’t brought this information to me…” - Administrator

13. The amount of funding a school gets is based on student population & attendance. Source: www.cde.ca.gov Per-Pupil Funding:

14. I believe my school is making the right decisions for my peers and me about the budget crisis. Source: UCLA/IDEA Survey

15. I believe that LAUSD should ask students what their schools need. Source: UCLA/IDEA Survey

16. “ I see charter schools as a threat to public education, I see that the country’s gonna have issues down the road if the public school system collapses.” - Administrator Claim Two Charter schools and reconstitution are not the answer to improving public education. “ I feel that charter schools have a huge impact on public enrollment. In the last 6 years our enrollment has decreased by half! - Administrator.

17. Population Breakdown Over Years Source: www.lausd.edu

18. I am concerned that charter schools are taking money away from public schools like Crenshaw. Disagree Agree Source: UCLA/IDEA Survey

19. “ I left my charter school because I felt that I was being treated unfair. I wasn’t a problematic student, I obeyed the rules, and they made it seem as if I didn’t do anything. I felt mistreated.” - Student Charter schools and reconstitution are not the answer to improving public education. “Charter schools use what we call creaming process; they tend to take the best students and families away from public schools and many of them don’t service special needs student.” - Teacher

20. I believe that charter schools are replacing public schools in Los Angeles. Disagree Source: UCLA/IDEA Survey

21. Conclusion: 1. There is a huge disconnect between the students and Crenshaw’s pending reconstitution. 2. Charter schools are not the answer to improving public education.

22. Recommendations: For Local and State Politicians/Government: Realize what your disregard for our communities has created, unbearable oppressive conditions that are unjust. Create incentives for businesses to establish and develop within our community WHILE also giving back. For LAUSD: Charter schools are not the answer! Think of better ways to support and save public schools. Create more programs like the UCLA/IDEA research program to help students be more involved with issues that are relevant to their daily lives. Do not punish schools that are not performing well, instead provide those schools with more resources.

23. Recommendations (Con’t): Administrators: Try to find a way to connect with students’ personal daily lives. Open more avenues to communicate with students such as newsletters, parental notes, ect. Provide more opportunities to get student voices more involved. Inform students about political things that go on at Crenshaw. Young people: Hold the adults in charge of your schools and government accountable for their responsibilities to you and the community. Get more involved with school activities that voice your opinions. Go to school site council meetings, and communicate your concerns.

24. Recommendations (Con’t): For Teachers: Push and challenge ALL of your students, and do it with love. Create opportunities outside of the classroom to engage in critical thinking and school advocates. If teaching is not your passion, get out of our schools! We DO NOT NEED You!