SILENCING PARENTS

What Is The Status Of Parent Engagement In Los Angeles?

The block of board members elected with the financial support of the charter school industry is battling back against reinstating the Parent Engagement Committee.

“I move that we continue suspended committees.”

- LAUSD Board Member Monica Garcia

While parents in Los Angeles scored a big victory last week with the resurrection of the Special Education Committee, the future of the Parent Engagement Committee is less certain. According to a source within the district, an agreement was secured to allow Board Member Scott Schmerelson to resume chairing meetings of these two committees on alternating months. This seemed to be confirmed when a Special Education Committee meeting was placed on the board’s calendar last week. However, after reviewing the video from last Tuesday’s board meeting, it appears that the resumption of the Parent Engagement Committee is now less certain.

During the meeting, Board President Kelly Gonez confirmed that she had the intention of allowing…