Background

Student # 10600 is a senior at LCHS and would like to participate in a Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program in Spain during the 2015-16 school year.  He is requesting that a leave of absence be granted to him by the Governing Board.  He is also asking that he be granted a diploma from LCHS upon his return.  LCUSD Governing Board Policies, Administrative Regulations and California Educational Code allow for granting of a high school diploma to the student. 

Current Considerations

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program will allow student #10600 to gain international experience, improve his Spanish language ability, and use this experience as a stepping stone to attend a four-year university, where he aspires to study international relations and diplomacy.  In order to participate in this program, he will need the LCUSD Governing Board to grant him a leave of absence for “the purpose of supervised travel, study, training, or work not available to the student under the educational options.”  (Board Policy 5112.3) Board policy 6146.11 empowers the Governing Board to “provide flexibility in the completion of prescribed courses in accordance with law.  In addition this policy states “as an alternative to completing the course requirements for high school graduation, students may fulfill one or more of the course requirements through a specially designed study program utilizing vocational programs and/or postsecondary institutions and approved by the Principal and Superintendent/designee.” Finally, Board Policy 6158, Independent Study, empowers the Governing Board to authorize independent study as an optional alternative instructional strategy which students may utilize to reach curriculum objectives and fulfill graduation requirements. The independent study option will allow this student to engage in a course of study that would serve his immediate and longer-term academic goals “as well as or better than they would in the regular classroom.”

Financial Implications

The financial implications are the loss of ADA to the District.   

BACKGROUND

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, known as CAASPP, was instituted for the first time in 2014 after the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program ended.  Field tests were administered in 2014 and the actual tests took place last spring.  The tests included new computer-adaptive Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Summative Assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics for grades 3-8 and 11.  Fifth, eighth and tenth grade students also continued to take the pencil and paper California Standards Test (CST) in science.  Students with special needs were administered the California Alternate Assessment (CAA), the California Modified Assessment (CMA) or the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA).  A standards-based test in Spanish was also available.  This is the first year that scores have been available.

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS

This presentation serves to inform the Governing Board and public of La Canada Unified School District of the recently released 2015 CAASPP results.  Comparisons with other high performing school districts across the state will also be included.  Next steps to address districtwide assessment needs and best practices to improve student success in our performance-driven school district will also be presented for discussion. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT

There is no financial impact to this discussion item. 

It is recommended the Governing Board review the public presentation of the CAASPP results and districtwide next steps and facilitate any further public discussion.

It is recommended the Governing Board review the public presentation of the CAASPP results and districtwide next steps and facilitate any further public discussion.

Background

The Superintendent prepares annual goals which are reviewed, revised and ultimately approved by the Governing Board. 

Current Considerations

In Closed Session on August 24, 2015, the Governing Board approved the Superintendent’s 2015 – 2016 goals.  Since 2011 the Superintendent has elected to make the goals public.  This presentation serves to inform the public of the Superintendent’s goals for 2015 – 2016.  The goals will also be published on the District’s website.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications involved with the public presentation and discussion of the Superintendent’s goals.

It is recommended the Governing Board review the public presentation of the Superintendent’s goals and facilitate any subsequent public discussion.

It is recommended the Governing Board review the public presentation of the Superintendent’s goals and facilitate any subsequent public discussion.

Background

The Governing Board indicated at a prior meeting its interest in reviewing and revising the District’s organizational goals, planning and guiding documents to ensure that they were updated and aligned.  Given the significance of the LCAP as a planning document, the Board determined to review the relevancy of its guiding documents.

At a Governing Board workshop held on November 13, 2014 the Board met and engaged in discussion to revise and align LCUSD’s organizational goals and guiding documents.

Current Considerations

As a result of the workshop, draft versions of LCUSD’s Tagline, Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Governing Board Guiding Principles, and the La Canada Commitment were created and presented. Governing Board members, the Superintendent, and a subcommittee of Leadership Team members have since provided feedback on the drafts.  Presented tonight is the final version of the draft document for Governing Board review and approval.

Financial Implications

Currently, there are no financial implications associated with this agenda item.

It is recommended that the Governing Board engage in a final review and discussion of the attached document and take action to adopt all of the following for LCUSD: Tagline, Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Governing Board Guiding Principles, and The La Canada Commitment.

It is recommended that the Governing Board engage in a final review and discussion of the attached document and take action to adopt all of the following for LCUSD: Tagline, Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Governing Board Guiding Principles, and The La Canada Commitment.

The Gann Limit Appropriation Calculation report is completed in accordance with Government Code Section 7906(f):   “Each school district shall report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and to the Director of Finance, at least annually, its appropriation limit, its appropriations subject to limitation, the amount of its state aid apportionments and subventions included within the proceeds of taxes of the school district, and amounts excluded from its appropriations limit, at a time and in a manner prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and approved by the Director of Finance.”

The formula for the calculation is statutorily set.  Resolution 5-15-16, and the completed Gann Appropriations Limit report, are attached for reference.

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS

The data provided are based on unaudited actuals for 2014-15 and the projections for 2015-16.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

None.

It is recommended that the Governing Board adopt Resolution 5-15-16 regarding the District’s Gann Appropriation Limit for 2014-15 and establishing the limit for 2015-16. 

The Governing Board is requested to adopt Resolution 5-15-16 regarding the District’s Gann Appropriation Limit for 2014-15 and establishing the limit for 2015-16.