Over the vigorous objections of some teachers and vocational education leaders, the Los Angeles Board of Education approved a bold academic reform plan Tuesday that will require high school students to complete a set of college prep courses.
Standing outside the Los Angeles Unified School District's downtown headquarters with several hundred cheering parents, students and community members after the 6-1 vote, board President Jose Huizar called it a victory.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday June 17, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 2 inches; 96 words Type of Material: Correction
College prep -- An article in Wednesday's California section about the Los Angeles Board of Education's decision to require high school students to take college prep courses said the initiative would begin with the class of 2008, unless students opt out. It also said the class of 2012 would be required to complete those courses. In fact, the initiative will begin with the freshman class of 2008 and students may opt out of the program. Beginning with the freshmen class of 2012, all students, with some exceptions, will be required to complete the college prep program.
"Thousands upon thousands of children will now have the opportunity to attend college, and that is an opportunity that wasn't there for them for many years," said Huizar, who introduced the plan, which was co-sponsored by board members Jon Lauritzen and David Tokofsky.
Board member Marguerite LaMotte, who represents many of the schools that serve parents and students who support the plan, cast the lone dissenting vote.
LaMotte said she was skeptical of how the district would implement the plan, including whether it could hire enough teachers for the additional courses when many schools were already relying on substitutes to instruct classes.
"Too many of my students in my district will be negatively and adversely affected by this mandate," she told the crowd, which was filled with students wearing red and blue T-shirts that read "Let Me Choose My Future."
"In their best interest, and in the best interest of some of your siblings, I cast a 'no' vote," she said as the crowd booed.
LaMotte's concerns echoed those of teachers and other board members who worried that the plan would hurt students who were already struggling with coursework.
Board member Julie Korenstein said: "I think about all of the students who may not get through high school because of this vote. I think about the students who may not get a diploma because of this vote."
Before voting "yes," Korenstein said she hoped "a mistake has not been made."
Beginning with the class of 2008, high school students will be required to complete the 15 courses needed for admission to the University of California or California State University systems unless they opt out.
They will be required to take four years of English, three years of math, two years of history, science and foreign language, and a year of visual and performing arts and advanced electives.
