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LCAP midyear: Newark Unified reports mixed progress, flags DLI staffing and reclassification work
Summary
District staff presented a midyear Local Control and Accountability Plan update showing mixed academic metrics, work to reclassify English learners and partial implementation of Dual Language Immersion staffing due to state credential shortages; trustees requested more granular and comparable data.
The district’s LCAP midyear presentation summarized progress on 41 metrics across four goals, with staff highlighting areas of both concern and improvement.
Karen Alard presented results showing low proficiency rates in math and reading on statewide assessments and diagnostic tools, and noted that reclassification of English learners remains a priority. Alard said 986 multilingual learners are enrolled and that last year the district reclassified 120 students; staff aim to increase that number this year. She also said a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) action is recorded as partially implemented because the district cannot fully staff a DLI program due to a statewide shortage of BCLAD‑credentialed teachers, but that nine teacher salaries funded through LCAP are supporting multilingual students and core practices associated with DLI.
Board members pressed for clearer apples‑to‑apples comparisons — for example, comparing fall‑to‑fall results rather than spring baseline to fall diagnostics — and asked for more granular reporting on suspensions, A‑G completion rates and progress between ELPAC levels. One trustee asked staff to include the percentage of students advancing at least one ELPAC level in future reports.
Alard acknowledged some carryover funding (she cited a $658,000 LCAP carryover) and said several expenditures were under way or awaiting invoices; she committed to bringing more disaggregated data in upcoming presentations. Trustees asked staff to return with clearer definitions and recommended adding midyear diagnostics aligned to the prior baseline for more meaningful year‑to‑year comparisons.
The presentation concluded with staff noting ongoing monitoring of chronic absenteeism, suspension reductions at alternative sites and the district’s plan to continue LCAP committee consultation as implementation proceeds.
