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Katie Winchell, Director of Marketing and Communications
California League of Middle Schools
editor@clms.net * (800) 326-1880, ext. 23
Taulene Ayoub, Director of Communications
United Way of Great Los Angeles
tayoub@unitedwayla.org * (213) 808-6436
Release: November 5, 2007
UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES AND CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS ANNOUNCE FREE PRINCIPAL TRAINING PROGRAM TO IMPROVE L.A. COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Goal of partnership to better prepare disadvantaged students for high school success
LOS ANGELES - In November 2007, 30 middle grades principals from across Los Angeles County will begin the Principals to Watch Academy, a unique training program designed to help them better serve all the students at their sites, but particularly the economically disadvantaged students who are most at risk of dropping out.
Research from the United Way of Greater Los Angeles show only 6 out of 10 ninth grade students in the county are likely to graduate from high school; less than half of those who do graduate are prepared for college.
The program was developed as a partnership between United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the California League of Middle Schools, with the goal of reaching students in middle school before they make the decision to drop out. It gives youth the support structures and curricula they need to successfully transition to high school, achieve and graduate. (Most high school students who drop out do so between grades nine and ten.)
To reach that objective, principals participating in the Principals to Watch Academy will be trained in the research-based criteria that define a high performing, student learning-centered middle school. They will tour model middle schools in Los Angeles County that are part of California's Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage program, receive mentorship from the principals of the model schools, and conduct collaborative, school-wide evaluations of the strengths and weaknesses of their own sites with their entire teaching staffs.
The principals will then develop three-year school improvement plans that address both the realities of their school sites and the hallmarks of high-performing middle schools: academic excellence, developmentally responsive practices, socially equitable practices, and organizational support and processes.
In April 2008, at the conclusion of the program, the principals will present their school improvement plans to their peers and mentors to earn the title of Principal to Watch.
Two aspects of the academy differentiate it from other principal training programs. First, the academy serves existing principals who already lead schools (most principal training programs target educators who wish to become principals). Second, peer-to-peer mentorship is provided by principals who lead high-performing middle schools with diverse student populations.
Principals participating in the program must be from Los Angeles County middle schools serving student populations where 40% or more qualify for free or reduced-price meals (an indicator of economic disadvantage).
The Principals to Watch program is operated by the California League of Middle Schools, a nonprofit organization that co-leads the Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage program with the California Department of Education.
Funding for the program was made possible by United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which is now focusing all its resources toward addressing the widespread poverty in Los Angeles County. Educational Achievement is one of three key areas - including Basic Needs and Financial Stability - in United Way's ten-year action plan to create pathways out of poverty in the county. By helping to develop more effective middle schools, United Way of Greater Los Angeles is making a long-term investment so that all young people in the county succeed in high school and graduate prepared for college and the workforce of the 21st century.
About United Way of Greater Los Angeles
United Way of Greater Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways out of poverty by focusing on meeting basic needs, improving educational achievement and increasing financial stability for the most vulnerable in our community. Through its research work, United Way identifies the issues and works in partnership with community leaders and supporters to solve them by funding targeted programs and advocating for change.
About the California League of Middle Schools
CLMS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the professional knowledge of middle grades educators so their students may experience academic success and personal well-being.
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