FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexandria Castellanos
Email: a.castellanos@lausd.net
Phone: (213) 608-5897
LA Unified Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin Sworn in for Second Term Serving Board District 7
LOS ANGELES, CA (DEC. 10, 2024) — Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin was sworn in today to begin her second term representing the students, families, and school communities of Board District 7, following her reelection outright in the March 2024 Primary Election.
First elected in 2020, Tanya has been a steadfast advocate for student success and educational equity. Her leadership has guided L.A. Unified through pivotal moments, including the hiring of a new superintendent, navigating an unprecedented global pandemic, and responding to a staff strike –all while prioritizing student safety and learning.
Over the last four years, under Tanya’s leadership and through her authored resolutions, L.A. Unified has achieved remarkable progress:
- Implementing fairer grading practices across the district by training educators in mastery-based learning and grading.
- Providing high-speed broadband internet to over 100,000 students, ensuring connectivity for learning at home.
- Developing and implementing specific strategies to recruit, retain and support more Black educators.
- Expanding access to arts education by working towards offering every student, from TK- 12th grade, the opportunity to explore each art discipline at every school level.
- Providing a holistic vision of school safety, creating a safe, welcoming, culturally- and racially-responsive school team supported by community partnerships.
- Developing an AI-powered public budget tool that's clear, comprehensive, language accessible, and aims to connect to student outcomes.
Tanya and the Board have also established and begun tracking district-wide academic goals through a uniform assessment system, secured up to 30% in employee raises including a $22.50 minimum wage, and invested more deeply in high-need schools and supports including the Student Equity Needs Index (SENI), the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) and increased mental health staff.
Tanya’s commitment to equitable and innovative policies continues to uplift the communities of Board District 7 and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive in the college, career, and life of their dreams.
“I am grateful to our Board District 7 community for entrusting me with another four-year term,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “I look forward to our continued collective effort to: prioritize student safety on and off campus; accelerate student achievement and target our investments in support thereof; strengthen family engagement and partnerships to uplift our students and communities; and creating greener, more vibrant learning environments that inspire learning and growth from early education to adult education. Your support inspires me to continue working steadfastly together to prepare our students for college, career, and life.”
Board Member Ortiz Franklin is a member of the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education representing Board District 7, where she was previously a student, teacher, teacher-educator and advocate. She is committed to ensuring all students graduate fully prepared to thrive in the college, career and life of their choice. Los Angeles Unified Board District 7 includes the diverse communities of South Los Angeles, Watts, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington and San Pedro.
For more information about Board District 7, visit us at https://achieve.lausd.net/bd7 or follow us on social media: Instagram (@lausdbd7), Facebook (@lausdbd7), Twitter(X) (@lausdbd7).
###
