WHITTIER – The Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Tuesday adopted a 2016-19 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) that invests $123 million – including $18.7 million in funds for high-needs students – to increase student access to technology, provide training and empowerment workshops for English learners and their parents, reduce Advanced Placement test fee costs and expand PSAT/SAT test opportunities.

The LCAP, a requirement of the state’s school funding system, guides District efforts to improve student learning. It identifies goals for each year, strategies to achieve those goals and funding sources. With widespread input from District stakeholders, many programs are developed to target all students, while others focus on the state’s three high-needs groups: economically disadvantaged students, foster children and English learners.

The Board also adopted a balanced 2016-17 budget based on the LCAP the same night.

“With the valuable input of our school community members, we have been able to maintain, expand and develop rich programs that have contributed to the success of our students and that of our talented teachers and staff, who work every day to produce positive outcomes,” Superintendent Martin Plourde said. “Through this LCAP, we remain committed to supporting all of our students and providing them every resource necessary to overcome any barriers or obstacles to their futures.”

The 2016-19 LCAP pledges to continue programs that met or exceeded 2015-16 goals to support all students, including providing summer professional development, hiring high-quality teachers and administrators, reducing class size and maintaining strong attendance rates – currently at 96.3 percent – and graduation rates – presently at 96 percent. The $18.7 in supplemental funds will be used to maintain or develop programs that will specifically support Whittier Union’s high-needs students.

Programs and services that will continue to expand or are being planned to support Whittier Union students include:

  • Increased student access to computers, internet and printers
  • Expanded school media center hours and increased tutorials
  • Training and workshops for parents of English learners
  • New Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) lead teacher
  • Increased summer school course offerings
  • Maintain positive behavior support systems
  • Field experiences/college visits to English learner students and parents
  • Additional support classes for credit recovery (Guided Study)
  • Academic Mentors training, support and compensation
  • AP test fee reduction/waivers
  • PSAT/SAT for all ninth-, 10th- and 11th-grade students
  • Expanded student mental health services and targeted counseling
  • Maintain academic/career counseling services and freshman support programs
  • Funding for Horizons Program

Whittier Union’s development process for the LCAP included the creation of a LCAP Task Force, which featured a wide representation of teacher leaders, counselors and classified representatives from every school.

The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), School Site Council, English Learner Parent Advisory Council, School Student Congress and District Student Advisory Committee each met monthly to discuss the process and provide input. Electronic surveys solicited extensive input from parents, students, teachers and staff. In addition, four District LCAP Advisory Committee meetings comprising parents, students, teachers, classified staff and community members obtained further feedback on the development of the LCAP before its presentation to the Board of Trustees on June 7.