City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
From: Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Lilia Hernandez, Assistant to City Administrator Subject
Los Angeles Unified School District Education Compact
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute an Education Compact with the Los Angeles Unified School District, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a term through June 2026.
Background
As part of the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD or District), the District is proposing to establish Education Compacts between the District and local governmental entities where LAUSD schools are located. The Education Compacts are intended to align resources with municipal governments in the Southeast Los Angeles County region and provide students with innovative programs and educational opportunities that best equip them for the future. As a member of the Southeast Los Angeles County region, and home of Vernon City Elementary School, the City of Vernon is served by the District and accounts for a 173- student enrollment.
Through the proposed Education Compact the City and District will collaborate to meet the educational needs of youth and families in the City through the end of the District’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (June 2026). The proposed Education Compact between the District and the City will undertake efforts that would be enriched, expedited, or enhanced through collaborative work in the following areas:
1. Communications and Ongoing Engagement
2. Enrollment and Positive Attendance
3. Crossing Guards and Other Traffic Safety Improvements
4. Safe and Positive School Climate
5. Student Health and Medical Services
6. Parent and Family Engagement
7. Academics and Expanded Learning
8. Connectivity
9. Facilities
10.Transportation
In summary, the Education Compact outlines the City’s and District’s commitment to partner and strengthen communications and ongoing engagement with students by leveraging City channels, including the City’s website and social media platforms, as well as City events and activities to share educational or other information provided by the District. The City will also support LAUSD student recruitment campaigns and annual attendance campaigns. The Education Compact also captures existing programs and efforts supported by the City including funding for the crossing guard program, daily campus safety walks by the Vernon Police Department (VPD), the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) led by VPD, and use of the City Hall parking lot to supplement parking needs for school events. These programs are supported by the City to ensure overall safety of the students and families that live or attend school in the City.
Additionally, the Education Compact identifies other areas of interest that the City and District can explore including potential programs and improvements in the areas of Student Health and Medical Services such as public education efforts to combat the public health issue of fentanyl use, Parent and Family Engagement workshops, and Academics and Expanded Learning Programs including tutoring and summer programming.
Overall, the Education Compact is intended to support students and families by reinforcing partnerships between the City and the District. The commitments outlined in the Education Compact are not legally binding nor do they mandate budgetary expenditures on behalf of the City or the District. While there may be financial expenditures associated with one or all of the areas of interest, any financial expenditure shall be voluntary in nature and shall not be made unless the responsible agency’s governing board has authorized the expenditure through its budgetary process.
The proposed Education Compact has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed Education Compact does not mandate budgetary expenditures. The associated fiscal impact will depend on funds authorized through the City’s normal budgetary process for the respective fiscal year.
Attachments
1. Education Compact Vernon-LAUSD