Students and parents urge LAUSD to allow independent graduation for Virtual Academy leadership students

Multiple public commenters — students, parents and families of Leadership and Public Service Virtual Academy seniors — told the committee the central Virtual Academy office has overridden site principals and denied students a smaller, school-level graduation.

"After 12 years of hard work, don't students deserve a graduation that is intimate and meaningful between them, their parents, and their teachers?" asked a student speaker, and several parents described a lack of transparent communication and asserted that central Virtual Academy leadership had taken "unilateral control" of decisions.

Parents and students described repeated attempts to resolve the matter at the school level and said they had been told conflicting messages about whether principals had authority over graduation decisions. Alejandro Telles, a parent, said the proposed combined graduation plan would force multiple schools together and produce ceremonies lasting up to six hours, limiting student speakers and intimacy. "They deserve a graduation that is intimate for the students, the parents, and the teachers," he said.

Students said a recent proposal from a board member had advanced a compromise and that some progress had been made, but they asked the board to keep oversight and ensure the agreed solution is implemented. "We ask that the school board please remain committed to this issue and ensure that students and families are included in these decisions," one student speaker said.

The committee took public comment on a range of topics and did not vote on the graduation issue during the meeting. Board staff indicated they would continue discussions with Virtual Academy leadership and site principals and would report back to callers and the board.