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Validated Stories

Winter Edition Newsletter

By #ValidatedPlan

March 4^th, 2022

What is Validated Stories?

Validated Stories is a newsletter with one purpose: to keep you informed of a bold, new idea.

Two years in the making with community input, the Validated Plan describes how schools and services in Local District South can better serve Black students.

Our schools have adopted before to special populations in need. English as a Second Language is an example of a group that requires extra resources.

But Black students face urgent needs, too. The achievement gap has persisted in U.S. schools for many decades, The Validated Plan strives to change that narrative.

The goal is tall: to transform education through equity for all students. Count on Validated Stories to share the successes and setbacks along the journey.

Validated Stories Winter 2022

In this issue:

Rising Grade-Point Averages mean more Black students can apply to four-year colleges.
All time record number of Black students GATE testing for placement into the gifted and talented program. Also: What you need to know to get your child recognized as gifted and talented.
Speaking Your Truth: Being Young, Gifted and Black in Middle School
Celebrations: Creating family vibes at University Pathways for Public Service; Sharing Gratitude at Van Deene Avenue; Compton Avenue Elementary embracing a homeless parent

Photo: Students learning how to play chess in after school program at Avalon Gardens Elementary School.

Superintendent Guarantees More Good News to Come with Validated Plan

Superintendent Michael Romero, Local District South

As promised, the Validated Plan topped our agenda this school year.

The result has led to instant changes that include:

Bringing more students into the gifted and talented program
Rising test scores in reading and math
Preparing more students for college
Providing more individual attention to students

Read about it for yourself in this issue: More than 1,200 students were nominated for our gifted and talented program. Also, more than half of Black students meet Cal State University standards.

Let me tell you: we're just warming up. I'm confident our progress will keep growing in the coming months. As our plan takes shape, our goal remains: to transform education.

Each year your child attends school in Local District South, they will benefit. The academic foundation we're building in them will last a lifetime.

Director of Validated Plan, Revealing More Black Student Success

Sidra Dudley, director of equity

Hello and welcome!

On behalf of Superintendent Michael Romero and Local District South, I present to you the first e-newsletter for the Validated Plan.

I am very excited to launch this quarterly newsletter, which was created to inform you of our progress towards the goals of the Validated Plan, showcase the great work that is taking place at our LD South schools, and provide resources to promote continued academic success.

Over the last few months, our schools have been extremely focused on enhancing the educational experiences of our Black students. They have embedded culturally relevant content into classroom instruction, identified and referred Black students for the Gifted and Talented Program, and provided targeted academic supports for students in Literacy and Mathematics via a new strategic plan called the "Breakthrough Team Approach."

It is this type of current news and information that we will bring to you in each edition of the Validated Plan newsletter, making sure to amplify and raise awareness of our Black students’ in Local District South.

As we embark on this journey together, we welcome your feedback and invite you to send a story idea or photo to LDSValidatedPlan@lausd.net and we will publish as many as possible.

In Unity,

Sidra Dudley

Equity Director | Validated Plan

Board of Education Approves Ortiz Franklin's Plan for Los Angeles Unified to Recruit and Support Black Teachers

Los Angeles Board of Education Tanya Ortiz Franklin is doing important work for our district. In February, the board unanimously passed her resolution for hiring and supporting Black teachers. Read more

These "Validated" students will have you rooting for their success!

Listen to their hopes for the future.

Meet Ashtyn Newbill

This senior has begun applying to Cal State University and other four-year colleges after raising his grade-point average. Other seniors have also improved their results through the Validated Plan.

(Scroll down to read more.)

Half of Black Seniors Poised to Graduate with “C” or Better, Providing More Options for Attending College

Before this year, Ashtyn Newbill believed his future would be attending a junior college.

But when his high school reopened in August, he dug in. He raised his grades. And now he's applying to several options at Cal State University and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

"I'm positive I can keep it up," he said of earning higher marks.

Ashtyn is not alone. Half of all graduating Black students in Local District South now report a grade-point average of a "C" or better, reflecting nearly an eight-point gain from a year ago, new figures show.

Rising grades mean more Black students can apply to four-year schools. The larger-than-expected outcome came despite schools closing for more than a year because of COVID and widespread reports of students struggling with online classes during the pandemic.

But the latest numbers bear out striking news: Black students improved their grades at a 72 percent higher rate over the past calendar year than their classmates.

What changed? Through the Validated Plan, schools have staff that monitor each Black student's academic progress daily, known as the "Breakthrough Team." They arrange tutoring, counseling, or other services that each student needs.

Gilbert Viveros, a college & career counselor at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory, said he traced improved grades to:

Teachers and counselors urging students to achieve more in class
Students having greater self-worth and a sense of value in society
More students influencing their peers to study
More communication between parents and schools

"We want to get parents informed and knowledgeable about their kid’s performance," Viveros said. "The families appreciate it; that’s the feedback I get.”

In Ashtyn's case, he changed his mindset. He sought more guidance from teachers. And he began hanging out with his volleyball team, "the right crowd," as he puts it.

Having grown wiser from his experience, he said will continue earning higher marks. "I'm positive I can keep it up."

Validated Plan Leads to Record 1,200 Students Nominated for Gifted and Talented Program

More than 1,200 Black students in Local District South will be tested for the gifted and talented program. That's a new record.

Currently, seven percent of Black students in Local District South take such classes. But the goal through the Validated Plan is 15 percent. This would more than double the current number of Black students in the program.

The final numbers will be known in June.

Ambler Avenue Elementary boasts the largest number of Black students in the gifted and talented program in Local District South. Teachers nominate students twice a month for the program.

Yvonne Brown, the Gifted Magnet Coordinator said that students see themselves reflected in their racially-diverse teachers and on murals that depict African American achievement across the Carson campus.

"I think that makes a significant impact on the students," she said.

Photo: Yvonne Brown, Gifted Magnet Coordinator, Ambler Avenue Elementary High Achieving Gifted Magnet and Dual Language School.

Yvonne Brown, magnet coordinator, Ambler Avenue Elementary High Achieving Gifted Magnet and Dual Language School

Want your child tested for the gifted and talented program? Use these tips

Students are assessed in one of four ways for the gifted and talented program:

Intellectual Ability- A student reasons at an advanced level, or finds original ways to solve problems. A teacher or parent can refer a student who is evaluated through further testing.
Creative and Leadership Ability - Students show their skills through services, such as student clubs or student government and are chosen by committee.
Visual and Performing Arts - Samples of the student's work are evaluated by a committee along with an audition.
High Achieving - Students are chosen by scoring 95 percent or above on a standardized test.

Key point: Although teachers refer students to the gifted and talented program, you can too. It's as simple as letting the teacher know that you want your child assessed for the program.

At Ambler Avenue Elementary, the school keeps open lines of communication with parents about the program. This has led to the school expanding the pool of candidates, said Yvonne Brown, the school's magnet coordinator.

"I know that because we are predominately African American population at Ambler, we understand the importance of having our children identified for the program," she said. "Our students are very talented."

U.S. Surgeon General Draws Attention to Mental Health Issues Nationwide at King-Drew Medical Magnet High

Watch news story

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy heard from students at King-Drew Medical Magnet High School about their concerns over mental health.

Murthy held a news conference at the Watts/Willowbrook school, drawing attention to the issue. He issued a public health advisory about challenges students face during the COVID pandemic a day later.

The advisory served as a rarely-issued warning for what he described as a growing crisis.

He said 25 percent of youth had shown symptoms of depression and 25 percent of anxiety, his advisory said.

“It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place,” Murthy wrote in a preface to the advisory.

“Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable and often preventable.”

Dr. Murthy's statement:

"Thank you to the students, teachers and faculty for hosting my team and me at King/Drew Magnet High School in December," said U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. "Learning about the school, participating in the student-led tour, and sitting down for a roundtable with students about how they are processing the pandemic and its impact on mental health will stay with me for a long time. It was a wonderful visit and a meaningful discussion, and I am grateful to everyone who welcomed us."

It was a wonderful visit and a meaningful discussion, and I am grateful to everyone who welcomed us.”

Being Young, Gifted and Black in Honors Math

Sidney Durr is a 13-year-old student at Dana Middle School. Taking advanced geometry at San Pedro High School is a lot different than her classes in middle school, -in more ways than one.

What do you like best about your geometry class?

“I think it's having conversations and problem solving with my friends about the work. Sometimes in class, there are things that I struggle with, and I ask a friend in class, ‘Did you understand this?’ And then we work together to figure it out. That’s what I like.”

Do students treat you differently because you are in advanced geometry?

"No, people don't treat me differently because of my math skills. But when I’m in the class with the 10th graders, they are surprised that I am just in the eighth grade, and we are learning the exact same thing.”

How does it feel to be identified as Gifted and taking different classes than your friends?

“I guess sometimes it can be good and bad. It’s good in the way that I want people to know that I’ve earned my achievements and I’ve worked hard to get in these classes. But it can also be bad because I also want to be a part of my friend circle and sometimes, I can feel left out of the conversation.”

What are your future career goals?

"After college, I want to go into the field of forensics. I’ve always been obsessed with watching crime shows. I like the fact that forensics is like solving puzzles, and you have to go through every single detail to solve it. Sometimes it takes years to figure it out. I like the challenging aspect of it. It’s kind of like math."

Amiya Marbles (left) and group sponsor Nichole Maddox (right) of the Black Student Union at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School.

The Black Student Union at Rancho Dominguez Prep Brings Unity and a Safe Space to the Students

The Rancho Dominguez Prep Black Student Union has grown significantly this year. Roughly 40 to 45 students attend meetings, and about 10 percent are from different races--even some teachers attend.

During the first Black Out Day, most students and staff have worn Black in support of the Black Student Union and Black students on campus. Here's an interview with the club's president, Amiya Marbles.

Please tell me about yourself.

I am a senior at Rancho Dominguez Prep, I am the Black Student Union president, the ASB president, a cheerleader captain, and swimmer. I am passionate about the environment.

Why did you want to become president of the Black Student Union?

I wanted to help the Black community and students falling behind in school. I want to help them see why we all should be proud of being Black.

How do you keep students interested in attending the meetings each month?

Students like to attend the meetings because they feel they are able to have a voice. We have an activity where students put index cards with interesting topics in a jar. The topics range from interracial dating, food, stereotypes, and perceptions. We talk about things in our lives and what we see on social media. This helps us solve problems and heal from some event that might cause trauma.

What is a typical Black Student Union meeting like?

It begins with music. Then we take five minutes to catch up with each other. We discuss BSU plans and events, make announcements and participate in team building activities.

What impact has the BSU made on your school and Black students?

The biggest impact I see is BSU is bringing Black students together. There is “excitement”, “we are seen”, and Black culture is being appropriated in the right way.

As Black Student Union president, how do you create a safe place for all voices?

I make sure that everyone's ideas and opinions are respected. A safe place has developed because of the bond that we have created.

Honoring Black Parents at Fremont High School

Local District South Stories You May Have Missed

Please click the image to see the video. (From left to right) 1. An emotional story about how Principal Lashon Sanford of Compton Avenue Elementary helped a homeless student and her family. 2. A great profile about the family-like culture created by Principal Amen Rahh at University Pathways Public Service Academy that is making a difference. 3. A video about Principal Priscilla Currie at Amestoy Elementary, who has started a Japanese Dual Language program, the first in Los Angeles Unified.

Video of homeless family receiving housing help through their school.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of using your voice.” — Michelle Obama

Michelle King, LAUSD Superintendent

The late Michelle King was the first Black female superintendent of Los Angeles Unified. The Los Angeles Board of Education appointed her in 2016 to the role. She grew up attending Los Angeles Unified schools.

Misty Copeland, Ballet Dancer & San Pedro HS Alumna

Misty Copeland, who grew up and attended school in San Pedro, is the first African American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. She learned how to dance at the San Pedro City Ballet, which still offers after school lessons to students in Local District South schools.