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LAUSD committee hears calls for prayer spaces, paid PD and more curriculum to uplift Black and Muslim students
Summary
Teachers, students and district staff told the LAUSD Curriculum & Instruction Committee that schools should scale culturally affirming practices: district Ramadan guidance, centralized lesson resources, dedicated prayer spaces, paid professional development and mental‑health supports tailored to Black and Muslim students.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Curriculum & Instruction Committee spent much of its meeting hearing teachers, students and mental‑health staff describe how schools can better reflect and support Black and Muslim identity.
Board member Carla Grigo, who chairs the committee, opened the session by asking a central question: “How do we uplift Black and Muslim identity, history and joy in schools and classrooms?” She urged the group to center student voices and adult self‑awareness as the starting point for change.
Teachers and students gave concrete examples: Nia Henry, a teacher at Dorsy High School, described classroom practices that make students visible — daily check‑ins, community circles, student art displays, playlists and project work — and urged district support so those practices can be widely adopted. “I have about 155 students and 95% of them identify as Black or Latinx,” Henry said, noting barriers such as insufficient…
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