[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5978514,"mediaKeyId","5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982","parentId",5809919,"title","Lucille Smith Elementary highlights student growth, dual‑immersion TK and community supports","audioSeconds",2476,"startMs",84000,"endMs",2560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982&start=84&end=2560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982/thumbnail_84000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978514/California/Lucille-Smith-Elementary-highlights-student-growth-dualimmersion-TK-and-community-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978514-a7a093255aa2410b835fd090aa45c845/orig.mp4?Expires=1775953013&Signature=SoFJj-dTSoJ6aIEua0pOlLv4Kz60e73ytWHl9OV8uxiQ14x9gKEJzEatAiTJuCq44k4xkrQIlPbYSdpKLDYzmsS-j9653mvYAkscptZ0n6P8LBempPjZpRdM891ulw4kjOZ~X9055MRR9Mr-wdkalqbDFFJOSIVsbphnyri6JQ-CcQufBaw2G2hhAyLgPn7iF5XcWnWmpeASEZgmYbwaMTLVLBCLLi4C7BUqWldF8VTH2px5zJjJqSGwZ4TynZv4h1ebTnONui951Ok8LUO4gMDMt0xwp9IkhmdoKdcxkobGSeTIzlF6fImZDppKBxq9mtFN3UtfS~96~TkZGJbvWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lawndale Elementary","date","2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","article","Lucille Smith Elementary Principal Crystal Moore and a team of teachers and staff presented the school’s year‑start priorities and programs to the Lawndale Elementary School District Board, describing initiatives they say are boosting student achievement and engagement.

Why it matters: Smith's presentation emphasized early‑education access, measurable student growth and family engagement strategies the school says help students qualify for middle‑school opportunities and strengthen school attendance and belonging.

Smith staff told the board the campus added an additional transitional‑kindergarten (TK) class this year and that the new section is dual‑immersion. Kathy Wynne, the school’s math TOSA, said evidence from the site and research shows TK students enter kindergarten with “significantly more skills” than peers who do not attend TK. The board later clarified that the dual‑immersion TK at Smith is intended to feed into the Mitchell dual‑language kindergarten program.

Moore described a shift at Smith toward celebrating growth as well as attainment. She said teachers now recognize students who show substantial gains between diagnostics even if a student’s overall performance remains below standard. “They do deserve to be recognized,” Wynne said, describing a student who stayed in the “below standard” band yet “grew over 100 points in their scale score.”

Fourth‑grader Camila Gomez told the board how one‑on‑one data chats and goal setting affected her: “When I took my I‑Ready test last year, I posted my goal to help me stay focused. I ended up passing my goal by 200%.”

School staff described programs tied to the district’s four goals: academic achievement, access and equity, engagement and 21st‑century learning. Examples included:
- Targeted English‑learner supports and newcomer groups, including an “around the world” classroom project and an LPAC club aimed at helping students reclassify from English‑learner status.
- Jumpstart, a pre‑school/early‑grades program run shortly before school begins that staff say helps students and families ease into the school year; staff and some outside employees volunteer or receive additional hours to run the program.
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) activity and attendance campaigns; the social worker Wandi Chu said Smith was awarded the California PBIS Silver Implementation Award and is pursuing gold next year.
- Library programs, makerspace access and author/reading activities described by library media clerk Maria Acosta.
- Community‑school work, led by community school site coordinator Desiree Austria, including a Million Male Figures March scheduled the following day and asset‑mapping and needs assessments to guide partnerships.

Moore also shared assessment results the school presented to the board, saying Smith’s SBAC growth had averaged 10–15 percentage points in English language arts and math over two years compared with state growth of about 1 percentage point — a figure the presenter used to illustrate relative gains, and which she contrasted with the school’s goal of further improvement.

Moore announced that Smith had been nominated by the state for the National Blue Ribbon School Award; Superintendent Castro confirmed the district had been notified but said a federal/state administrative decision ended the award program’s final public recognition before the official presentation. Castro asked the board and audience to recognize the nomination and the school’s work.

Board members praised Smith’s focus on celebrating growth, supporting newcomers and involving families. Trustee Adi Morales said the school’s equity emphasis — ensuring newcomers keep their culture while learning English — was “very important.” Trustee Anne Phillips highlighted the student data conversations as a life skill.

The school presentation included multiple examples of programs and specific practices; there were no board actions tied to the presentation itself.

Ending: The board did not take formal action on the presentation; staff said they will continue school‑level implementation and monitoring and will return to the board with formal data updates as scheduled.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting of the Lawndale Elementary School District","oneSentenceSummary","Lucille Smith Elementary Principal Crystal Moore and a team of staff presented the school’s year‑start programs — including an added dual‑immersion transitional‑kindergarten class, expanded newcomer supports, PBIS activities and family engagement work — and highlighted student growth and a state nomination for the National Blue Ribbon School Award.","taxTitle","Lawndale Elementary, School Districts, California","taxId",55363,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5978491,"After‑school program reports early enrollment gains, staffing and clubs to launch in September",160,6000000,6160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982&start=6000&end=6160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982/thumbnail_6000000.jpg","/articles/5978491/California/Afterschool-program-reports-early-enrollment-gains-staffing-and-clubs-to-launch-in-September","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978491-0b0f6722319f0e7f997de64e91e3c242/orig.mp4?Expires=1775953013&Signature=cr4PuHbbgWbFTc9CFJM0eqBtMAPp1XJWO2VxE9dnih4cf4qLgmhtjbOS3jJ6O2o-bCjUJv5HPja6rkl6WL2U9fPb27ibrGZtr6WEsZqykXLfP5l8jYg~GHmv7L2KPZmB6su7imEGw~AtBuqc51IgBaTRP3cgpyOsPykS6vrSD0TPk5tjSt7djbdCOY3~0HhdL5VfYypVJGVCWG2OwuVc1jA1rKZtPQ1ULmyhVNSmn-SvbWs7N0IXPux9elaRUZIQhnrw9v-tZpTCkGG5wnmvNMq5RzW2crHCHfQSyKRIVkdTdZRlmvfXwVxsatTUBHRd0dJODJ3n-NlJsNxlxlBd0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Castro updated the board on the district’s after‑school wrap program (RAP), reporting early enrollment and staffing levels and outlining upcoming enrichment activities.

Why it matters: After‑school programs provide supervision, tutoring and enrichment to families; the district said it is expanding capacity and reducing reliance on external partners by hiring district staff.

Castro reported that, three to four weeks into the school year, the program had over 1,000 enrolled students. Staffing included about 90 district employees assigned to the program and roughly 45 partner program staff contracted to provide specialized services; the superintendent said the district is working to minimize contractor reliance where possible but will use partners for specialized needs.

The district plans to launch tutoring and clubs (HeyTutor and enrichment clubs) beginning Sept. 29 and invited families to the annual Lights On after‑school event on Oct. 23. The superintendent also said the district had begun an active recruitment and a parent survey about RAP that families were asked to complete by Sept. 26 to support strategic planning for the program’s three‑year renewal (ELOP plan).

Ending: District staff will continue recruitment, begin enrichment clubs and publish survey results as part of the strategic planning process; no board action was required at the meeting.","The district reported early wrap/RAP after‑school enrollment of more than 1,000 students, roughly 90 district staff and 45 partner staff supporting programs; enrichment clubs and tutoring were scheduled to begin Sept. 29 and an annual Lights On event is planned for Oct. 23.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5978497,"District to pilot PEP clinic at Roosevelt for young children with challenging behaviors",150,5820000,5970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982&start=5820&end=5970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982/thumbnail_5820000.jpg","/articles/5978497/California/District-to-pilot-PEP-clinic-at-Roosevelt-for-young-children-with-challenging-behaviors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978497-9a4fc943743fd0a06f941167e479d256/orig.mp4?Expires=1775953013&Signature=dR3k9ni-19bonx8B6a03xruJ4I982wsJly9QnhKc3DiLZqm1L3LTTVFTFPSttgacE1XsMYgf3P5hQP09F-V8OwDOnWYDvtsjCkHA0rYvDQPTWdjcu5DDXPI5Krm37v6cMQuA7qE2oZEbKKkVi03dwLGLd2R6YpQO~BdB0z57qMWZ~GGbC6h6U2XXBPNwxvnFWefGr66prAa7j5jPi-1BHyFAhOS16raeo~h-LTj1-V1AbJz-70tCbSUQqttFYU6HOhvtkOS5prpJCHBL5llH5AnlKa2YhWFmUJzoCLfIcdVVUr-f0BANCwM4h4bN9yzK9Wn73ntUSoyaq1tn3VVW3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The superintendent updated the board on a new pilot PEP (Prevent‑ or Parent/Behavior) classroom at Roosevelt designed to support children ages 3–6 with challenging behaviors and to provide parent coaching and hands‑on practice.

Why it matters: The program is intended to address severe behavior that can impede classroom learning and to build consistency between home and school through coaching and clinic‑style interventions.

Castro said the PEP classroom (Room 20 at Roosevelt) is modeled on an evidence‑based Tennessee Regional Intervention approach and provides parent coaching, hands‑on practice and strategies to align home and school routines. The program targets behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, separation anxiety and difficulty adapting to routines.

Students are referred by teachers and the school team. The superintendent named the pilot team listed in her report: Cassidy McCoy (psychologist on special assignment), new behavior intervention technician Nadia Briones, and community schools site coordinator Dominique Perez. Castro said the team completed most training and services are expected to launch the following month once the final training is complete.

The board had questions about timing; Castro said the final training is scheduled for next week and services would begin afterward.

Ending: The board received the implementation update; the pilot will return to the board with operational details as students are enrolled and services begin.","Superintendent Castro described a pilot Parent Engagement Program (PEP) classroom at Roosevelt designed for ages 3–6 with behavioral challenges; the team completed training and plans to begin services next month with teacher referrals and parent coaching.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5978505,"Los Angeles County Office of Education approves LCAP but warns of multi‑year deficit and declining enrollment",216,4844000,5060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982&start=4844&end=5060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982/thumbnail_4844000.jpg","/articles/5978505/California/Los-Angeles-County-Office-of-Education-approves-LCAP-but-warns-of-multiyear-deficit-and-declining-enrollment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978505-008e60e3ee4ec1f26d502d0ca6865448/orig.mp4?Expires=1775953013&Signature=T4KYZWaOKVAJVHOpHH4LTMG01ygX7bDoUw8Psc4yrZOPJL4UjXa3J7oD69nvD28qSxwL4qGbb~RJp4q5MjNwCwlvn~atp~2F7xN0NT1jG-l1MNu7vPdI5CTX97Z96SJzgI8oQxOyjTT6qYHMZHCfWfPFAV~-4SU6xOgMs2lJ11iVpTHAZytVOuI0~4eKykaqdsv~SQ96jI6dm~92EmxoE-l9XSXwnzIhzGx0HeJX4Ba0O9sNjpnOopKkc0lggEy6yG5k7rrYbhy0LhOAwP-g-uxVnUWHZqvSJADzp8liGiejlOC9sODnkzHBnQdfSOwew-Ph-7nFZ2Lcfj9ZIpdcMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) notified the Lawndale Elementary School District Board that it approved the district’s adopted Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and adopted budget for fiscal year 2025–26, but raised concerns about multi‑year fiscal projections and declining enrollment.

Why it matters: LACOE approval allows the district to proceed with the adopted plan and budget, but the county’s letter urged the district to take corrective actions to address projected fund‑balance erosion and lower average daily attendance (ADA), which could affect staffing and facilities planning.

Superintendent Castro read a letter from LACOE stating the county had completed its review and determined the district’s LCAP “meets all the criteria and is approved.” The letter cites compliance with the State Board of Education template and expenditure regulations.

The county letter also raised fiscal concerns and requested additional action. It said the district’s unrestricted general fund balance is projected to decline by approximately $19,180,000 (88.2%) over three years if no corrective actions are taken. The letter asked the district to provide an updated fiscal stabilization plan with the first interim report due to the county on Dec. 5, 2025.

LACOE recommended careful monitoring of enrollment and attendance trends and updating financial projections accordingly. The letter said continued declines in enrollment and attendance “will result in a loss of revenue for the District in future years” and recommended assessing staffing and facilities planning to reflect projected declines.

The county letter identified specific review criteria and referenced Education Code provisions as read into the record by the superintendent. The board moved to accept and file the LACOE correspondence: Trustee Anne Phillips moved, Trustee Adi Morales seconded, and the board recorded a hand vote of 3–0 in favor.

Ending: The board accepted the LACOE correspondence and will be required to submit a fiscal stabilization update with its December interim report as directed by the county office.","The county office confirmed approval of the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan and adopted budget for 2025–26, but its review letter warned of projected unrestricted general fund declines, enrollment losses and requested an updated fiscal stabilization plan by Dec. 5, 2025.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5978508,"District outlines new communications plan, expands ParentSquare, website and outreach",1250,3515000,4765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982&start=3515&end=4765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809919-b34f04a2458dbd492464f644e04b6982/thumbnail_3515000.jpg","/articles/5978508/California/District-outlines-new-communications-plan-expands-ParentSquare-website-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978508-3ed33317aee6496875cf9312164ff52d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775953013&Signature=E4aI-sGlnQO9wG6hGIJfvORrch4IjdNYTnT~3CJG~N00rVtqyVwf3~GMqyfDy4dBtV-Q3yQ5ulamvHORddkbfq89jTEZRatfr6LbmkQkvLEheZXZuek-DMVaIsZTZ7hdidCbF2Ix3adATo9m4ZyljhvQ-aM8UGlntGgVVbw4~SD~GGeL-naz5z1tDcZyYvSVfR3uQbzgUzRd4YhOGdE7JisUqc8pu6aXa-d-~o~nW~fASPXuitr3bJHwxB4XtZeCXcaKDtE1QakoWrOpARMf7yhnojfmHoRsA1KEMXp1oARcwIMswCTNjgF~-u~TS-LNRYwGom2HpH1xDO5Kj3VfDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liliana Martinez, the district and community communications coordinator, briefed the board on a multi‑pronged plan to centralize and expand district communications, digital access and outreach to families.

Why it matters: District leaders said improved communications aim to increase enrollment, boost family engagement, speed crisis messaging and publicize school recognitions and programs.

Martinez summarized recent and planned work: districtwide rollout of ParentSquare across all sites (including early childhood programs), a new enrollment landing page and a reorganization of school websites to put commonly used actions (enrollments, menus, calendars) on the front page. She said the district added a website section for news items so school spotlights can appear on both district and school pages.

For emergency communications, Martinez said the district updated its crisis communication plan and Smart Alert templates inside ParentSquare so schools can rapidly send prewritten emergency messages to families and staff. “When there is an emergency, we only have a matter of minutes to message our families,” she told the board while describing the template system.

On outreach and enrollment marketing, Martinez said the district ran Google Performance Max ads, paid social media posts and mailed enrollment mailers with step‑by‑step enrollment instructions. She described a regional media placement titled “All Access with Andy Garcia”: a short commercial scheduled to run Oct. 6–31 in the Lawndale/Hawthorne/Gardena region and a longer documentary segment featuring district leaders and Anderson Elementary as a backdrop.

Martinez also discussed metrics: YouTube view growth approaching 17 percent, rising Instagram followers, and a district website view total she said was almost 335,000 (a cumulative metric the communications office began tracking after a recent site refresh). She said enrollment advertising has produced at least some direct enrollments and that the district will continue to measure conversion.

Planned work includes accessibility training to improve communications for people with disabilities, a storytelling campaign called “Tell Me Something Good,” a community‑schools newsletter, and individualized outreach to families not yet active on ParentSquare. Martinez said she will continue monthly communications meetings to coordinate messaging among departments and partner organizations.

Board members asked about calendar control (answered: community liaisons and office managers manage school calendars) and encouraged continued outreach to families with limited tech access.

Ending: The board received the update and thanked Martinez for the work; no formal action was requested or taken at the meeting.","The district communications coordinator told the board the district is expanding ParentSquare use, reorganized websites with an enrollment landing page, introduced Smart Alert templates for emergencies and is running targeted enrollment ads, including a regional segment with TV host Andy Garcia.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lucille Smith Elementary highlights student growth, dual‑immersion TK and community supports

After‑school program reports early enrollment gains, staffing and clubs to launch in September

District to pilot PEP clinic at Roosevelt for young children with challenging behaviors

Los Angeles County Office of Education approves LCAP but warns of multi‑year deficit and declining enrollment

District outlines new communications plan, expands ParentSquare, website and outreach