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Superintendent Beutner Hosts All In for Public Education Celebration and Announces New Effort to Increase Partnerships and Grants
The event celebrates the importance of community partnerships in education and calls on more communities – civic and grassroots, business, labor and philanthropic, faith-based, and city, county and state elected leaders – to be all in for public education in Los Angeles
New effort will help school leaders and teachers identify and apply for grant funding and make it easier for community members to partner with Los Angeles Unified
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 27, 2019) — Superintendent Austin Beutner and community leaders today hosted the first All In for Public Education celebration to highlight the importance of community partnerships in providing every child with the best education possible.
Watch a video of All In for Public Education
“Today, we celebrate the importance of community involvement in education and our shared commitment to support all students,” Superintendent Beutner said. “We are committed to making sure every child in our community has the opportunity to succeed in school and in life, but it takes more than one family, one company or one non-profit. It takes a community.”
Research has demonstrated that when parents and community organizations are involved in public schools, student attendance, academic achievement, graduation rates and college readiness improve.
Community organizations can provide critical services that go beyond the classroom that help address the unique needs and challenges faced by students. Many students and families in Los Angeles Unified reside in underserved communities and face challenges related to poverty, health, public safety and special needs that make it difficult for students to learn. Los Angeles Unified needs support from community partners to provide the best possible education to the students and families it serves.
The All In for Public Education celebration was attended by over 250 community members and featured student performances by the University High School All Stars Jazz Choir and the Los Angeles High School Color Guard and Drumline performance; a video presentation featuring Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Antonia Hernandez of the California Community Foundation; and testimonials on the power of community partnerships from students, teachers and community members.
School Board President Mónica García; Max Arias, executive director, SEIU Local 99; and Superintendent Austin Beutner all spoke to the need for the community to become involved in public education.
The event was held at the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance and co-hosted by a diverse group of education and community leaders: Laphonza Butler, Christine Essel, Antonia Hernandez, Michael Lawson, Richard Lovett, Tim Noonan, Nina Revoyr, Ed Roski, Ulisses Sanchez, Jan Sobel, and Joan Sullivan.
Outside the Museum of Tolerance theater, numerous booths displayed just some of the successful programs and partnerships between Los Angeles Unified and communities.