AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - October 3, 2013 Inside Time for Leaves to Change... Sort of This Issue Business Briefs..................4 Calendar...............................3 Classifieds ...........................3 Community Briefs ..............3 Food ......................................5 Hawthorne Happenings ...3 Legals ............................ 2,6,7 Multi-shaped foliage signals the beginning of fall. Photo by www.christopherbarnesphotography.com District Doing Well Amid Testing Changes Sports ...................................4 By Dylan Little that the “No Child Left Behind” model is more challenging class, we give them a more It’s no secret that the way teachers, broken. challenging test.” schools and districts are being evaluated is One example of how stringent the Markarian noted that asking schools to in the midst of some fundamental changes, requirements to avoid PI are is what happened improve their academic benchmarks and step but during the Sept. 25 Hawthorne school to Eucalyptus Elementary. Despite initially up and challenge more students puts teachers board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of appearing to make gains in all its subgroups, and administrators in a tough position. “It’s Educational Services Brian Markarian showed on review, one child was short of making the tough to ask schools to increase rigor and Weekend to legislation waiting the governor’s signature, in a PI track that campuses spend years Hawthorne is outpacing the California averageDespite these challenges in many categories,then question their scores,” he said.federally required “Adequate Yearly Progress”(AYP)--which then forced the entire schoolhow the small district is showing remarkableresilience while preparing for the future. Due Forecast would be administered before California’s the review and keep full control of funding that gains in any one category were slim andin grade level proficiencies. Unfortunately,this high level of academic prowess meanstrying to get out of once they are in it. Inthis case, Markarian is looking to challengelast school year was probably the final timefederally mandated standardized testing full adoption of “Common Core State and curriculum in the hands of the District the District saw some losses--although none Standards” and the accompanying Smarter and teachers at the school site. “We’re going that put them more than a few percentage Balanced computerized tests. According to to examine that,” Markarian said, “It’s long, points below the state averages. “A point Markarian, this shift is one of the biggest to tedious work, but we’re going to do it.” of growth is hard to come by,” Markarian hit education in years. “Accountability and The ever-increasing standards are said. “When you put that point in context… Friday assessment are two areas that are undergoing complicating a push by the district to to hang on is impressive. The fact that we Sunny think I can convey the magnitude of the preparation for the new “Common Core State held ground is impressive.”Board member Alexandre Monteiro saidget children into more difficult classes inmassive changes,” Markarian said. “I don’t 81˚/62˚ changes that are underway.” Standards.” Markarian says that providing an he was pleased to see the District adapting Because of how the federal requirements early exposure to advanced concepts, even to the changes in assessments while still of education work (as laid out in the “No if students can’t master them immediately, staying out of PI itself. “I feel comfortable Saturday and schools must meet to avoid “Program boredom. “Our mission has been to increase our district is not in PI,” Monteiro said. “Iwith what you presented. I’m happy to seeis preferable to losing their attention due toChild Left Behind Act”) the targets teachers Sunny Improvement” (PI) -- a series of sanctions rigor,” Markarian said. “Sometimes those feel we are moving in the right direction.” meant to improve education at troubled school classes work out--sometimes they don’t. If Similarly, Board member Cristina Chiappe 81˚/62˚ sites – have increased to the point where the we can have a kid score high basic and be was happy to see Hawthorne still improving majority of schools in the state are in PI. exposed to geometry, that’s better than having on its academic record, especially when so Other than Hawthorne Math and Science them stay in algebra and not be engaged or many others have reached a plateau. “I’m so Sunday in PI, along with 86 percent of elementary challenged.” area, we are the only one to improve,” sheproud to see that of all the districts in theHowever, this push for more challengingAcademy, all of Hawthorne’s school sites are Sunny schools, 87 percent of middle schools and material jeopardizes the District’s academic said. “And we will continue to improve.” 81˚/60˚ far as district-wide PI, Hawthorne is one might be too advanced for them, the District the numbers don’t tell the whole story andHowever, Chiappe was quick to note thatrecord. By putting students in classes that78 percent of high schools in the state. As of only 15 districts statewide to stay ahead takes the chance that a student who would that she supports making sure students are of the ever increasing goal line. Both U.S. ace a test in a subject like algebra might fail sufficiently challenged in the classroom. “We Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and a more difficult test like geometry. “That don’t just look at the numbers,” she said. California State Superintendent of Public the increased rigor comes with a price,” “We’re working, teachers and administrators, Instruction Tom Torlakson have expressed Markarian said. “When we give them a to give them the instruction that they need.” •
Lawndale 10_03_13
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