LA schools pitched students an expensive experiment to get higher grades. Most turned it down
LOS ANGELES — Despite failing every class — or because of it — Rebbeca Avelino, a 14-year-old eighth grader, wanted time off from school during spring break. But history teacher Lorraine Escalante pressed her to attend two "acceleration days" in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
"She knew that I was doing bad," Rebbeca said. "And she wanted to encourage me and she's like: 'You could do it. Don't let anybody stop you. You can do it. You can reach those goals if you try, and you should come.'"
Rebbeca became part of an expensive, massive and controversial experiment in the nation's second-largest school system — a key initiative, made possible by COVID-relief money, to fill gaps in student learning exacerbated by the pandemic. The money has to be spent by September 2024.
Low participation ultimately limited the impact of the four "acceleration days" — two over winter break and two over spring break — as families opted for vacation time in English Language Arts and 72% below grade level in math. Last week's spring break installment pulled in fewer than 8% or 33,076 of the district's 422,276 students for one or both days. During winter break, 36,486 students attended one or both days.
