Applicants must submit this Letter of Intent and the following data where applicable:

Transcription

1 Letter of Intent This Letter of Intent will provide formal notice to LAUSD regarding an applicant s intention to submit a proposal for the school year. The information presented therein is non-binding; specific details provided below may be finalized in the proposal submission. Applicants must submit this Letter of Intent and the following data where applicable: CST, API, AYP, EL reclassification, CAHSEE, SAT and AP no later than 5 p.m. on November 15, If you should have any questions about any of the requirements listed in this Letter of Intent, please contact LAUSD at (213) Letters of Intent must be submitted via Organization Information Name of applicant (for profit entities may not apply) Address Hyde Park Elementary School Community 3140 Hyde Park Blvd Los Angeles, CA Phone Website (if applicable) Main contact name and phone number Thuong Ha Corsentino, UTLA Chapter Chair tmh0904@lausd.net, Fannie Humphery, Hyde Park El. Principal Fannie.humphery@lausd.net, Gay Havard, LD3 Director of School Services Gay.havard@lausd.net, Benita Grant, Parent Representative Theodore Thomas, Sr., Park Mesa Heights Comm. Council President, Letter of Intent YES Academy Page 1

2 Basic Proposed School Information and Description Proposed neighborhood school/site name (must agree to serve all students in that community) Young Educated Scholars Academy (YES Academy), formerly Hyde Park Elementary, will serve all students in the current school attendance boundaries. YES Academy is on a traditional calendar. Grades include pre k-5 th, and special education. It is a 100% Title 1 school. Enrollment is 680 students with a population of 60.7% Hispanic and 38.7% African American. Population includes 321 English Language learners and 35 Special Education students. Brief description of community engagement activities planned or completed As a result of the following meetings, parents and community members want to continue to increase their involvement in their children's education as full partners with the school. Parents want to become change agents and be actively involved in the change process and in developing a new school vision. Completed community engagement activities: Plan Development Meetings October 8, 2009 (with parent representative Benita Grant, LD3 Superintendent M. King, Director of Instruction G. Havard, UTLA Chapter Chair T. Corsentino, Principal C. Mayes-Taylor) UTLA Public School of Choice Meeting Oct. 9, 2009 (hosted by UTLA, with parent representative B. Grant, Chapter Chair T. Corsentino, teachers G. Burt and R. Lager) Parent Informational Meeting and Discussion for Public School of Choice Oct. 15, 2009 and Oct. 22, 2009 (Lead by Chapter Chair T. Corsentino, Parent Representative B. Grant, LD3 Superintendent M. King, and Director of Instruction G. Havard) Approximately 75 parents in attendance. Letter of Intent YES Academy Page 2

3 School Choice Meeting for Classified Staff - Oct. 26, 2009 (Lead by teacher D. Bagby and Parent Representative B. Grant) Parent Volunteer Meeting drive - Nov. 4, 2009 (Lead by Parent B. Grant) "My Child, My Choice, My Community" Community Meeting - Nov. 5, hosted by National Council of Negro Women (with Hyde Park teachers, parents, and community members in attendance) UTLA School Choice Writing/Planning Session Nov. 10, 2009 (With teachers T. Corsentino, L. Alcala, D. Bagby, K. Jackson, parent B. Grant, and Principal Humphery) Community visit to NOW Academy, a Pilot School - Nov. 12, 2009 (Parents B. Grant and Cynthia Keller, Teachers T. Corsentino, D. Bagby, L. Alcala, C. Thomas, and S. Gossett, Principal F. Humphery) School Choice Meeting with Michelle Bennett and Day Higuchi of LASDI Nov. 12, 2009 (Parents B. Grant and Cynthia Keller, Teachers T. Corsentino, D. Bagby, L. Alcala, C. Thomas, and S. Gossett, R. Lager, and Principal F. Humphery) School Choice Parent and Community Meeting Nov. 16, 2009 (Lead by T. Corsentino, B. Grant, and F. Humphery) Planned community engagement activities: Parent Meeting for Public School of Choice every two weeks to update parents and to gain input School Choice Meeting every Wednesday with teachers, parents, community organizers, and administrators to research and write the proposal. School Choice Leadership Team meeting every Thursdays with parent leaders, teachers, Letter of Intent YES Academy Page 3

4 community members, and other school staff. Community Walk to inform neighborhood December 2009 Brief description of proposed vision, mission, education plan, and partnerships Proposed Vision: The technology and communication driven Young Educated Scholars Academy s (YES) vision is to produce college-ready students who are enthusiastic, motivated life-long learners and high achievers. The success of YES relies on its professional learning community, a nurturing culture of high academic success, progressive student-centered curriculum, innovative use of technology, and the active, full partnership of the K-5 student body, committed staff and faculty, parents and community. Proposed Mission: The mission of our school is to educate students who: set and achieve academic and personal goals, learn and apply concepts, knowledge, and skills in and beyond school; communicate effectively; use technology confidently and responsibly; become self-motivated, productive citizens and life-long learners Proposed Education plan: Our educational plan is a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning aligned with our mission and vision. A standards-based and academically rigorous curriculum will be continually developed and utilized. Researched based methodologies such as Thinking Maps, differentiated instruction, culturally relevant pedagogy, increased opportunities for structured talk and writing, cooperative learning, and academic language development will be implemented for English Language Learners, Letter of Intent YES Academy Page 4

5 Standard English Learners, and students with special needs. The Response to Instruction and Intervention framework will be the basis for on-going assessments of all students. On-going professional development will be planned to support the instructional needs of teachers and students using a model of teacher collaboration. Our school culture will model respect for diversity. Community partnerships will be explored to promote positive self-image and good citizenship. Innovative strategies and programs may include, but is not limited to: daily intervention with targeted students per teacher before school, early intervention for K-1 students using research based programs such as Code Breaker in small group setting, daily teacher collaborative planning time, differentiated professional development based on teacher needs and interest, rigorous staff and teacher selection by committee, performance task projects using the latest technology to research and demonstrate learning, communication using technology for students, parents, teachers, and community members such as online classes, through and online forums, and student created websites, Community Partnerships As the Hyde Park community is an integral part of a student s education and growth, YES Academy will develop new partnerships and strengthen existing partnerships and mentoring Letter of Intent YES Academy Page 5

6 programs with community groups such: Park Mesa Heights Community Council, the Family Service Center, the National Council of Negro Women, the 77 th Street Police. These partnerships will provide additional resources and activities focused on student achievement and will support the school mission and vision. For example, the 77 th Street Police and Park Mesa Heights C.C. provide Jeopardy, a mentoring program for boys and the National Council of Negro Women provide GEMS, a mentoring program for young girls, to help them focus on academic growth. Letter of Intent YES Academy Page 6