xiggi
September 29, 2007, 12:06pm
1
<p>In the absence of a true school choice and true school freedom, one has to applaud a gift “tied to strict accountability measures structured around academic and school safety targets, including test scores, graduation rates, drop-out rates, and student safety measures.” The benefactor added that "“We would not be investing this $50 million if Mayor Villaraigosa had not been tackling school reform head on.” </p>
<p>School reform has a very lengthy and sinuous road ahead of itself. </p>
<p>
Los Angeles Receives $50 Million for Public Schools</p>
<p>Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced a ten-year, $50 million commitment to the Partnership for LA Schools from local real estate developer Richard Lundquist and his wife Melanie.</p>
<p>The largest individual donation ever made to Los Angeles schools is the lead gift of a fundraising campaign designed to raise millions for the school system. The gift will be tied to strict accountability measures structured around academic and school safety targets, including test scores, graduation rates, drop-out rates, and student safety measures.</p>
<p>The gift will fund specific programs designed to have an immediate impact on improving student achievement. The programs will likely include training and support for teachers, student and community programs, accountability systems, building professional capacity, and the Teach LAUSD campaign, which will include $4 million over four years to fund the growth of Teach for America in the Los Angeles Unified School District.</p>
<p>In addition, Melanie Lundquist committed herself to working with staff to help reach the campaign’s fundraising goals. “We would not be investing this $50 million if Mayor Villaraigosa had not been tackling school reform head on,” she said. “It’s time my generation answers this call before we become the first to give our children an education that is less than what was given to us. We simply cannot abandon our children.”
</p>