Melissa Shepherd

This Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Annual Update outlines the strategic direction for the La Canada Unified School District. Key priorities include recruiting and retaining high-quality staff, providing a high-quality instructional program, promoting student social and emotional health and wellness, reducing and maintaining class sizes, enhancing student engagement, offering quality instructional support for English learners, and ensuring well-maintained district facilities. The overarching vision is to foster personal growth and academic excellence, empowering students and the community to reach their full potential and succeed in a global society.

The committee met to evaluate and pilot ELA materials to provide a recommendation for district-wide adoption. The meeting included presentations of teacher feedback and parent input regarding four different publishers: National Geographic, California Collections, Wonders, and Journeys. Strengths and weaknesses for each publisher were discussed in detail, specifically focusing on components like rigor, online resources, spelling programs, and grade-level appropriateness. As a consensus could not be reached due to a split preference between Wonders and Journeys, the committee agreed to allow grade levels to collaborate and submit their final choices to site principals to determine a primary recommendation.

This document serves as an annual update for developing the 2021-22 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) for La Canada Unified School District. It provides an overview of the district's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) budget and details how funds are allocated, especially for increased or improved services for high-needs students. The plan reviews and integrates strategic goals from prior years, focusing on: 1) recruiting, retaining, and training high-quality staff; 2) providing a high-quality instructional program encompassing standards, technology, and English Learner support, including class size management; and 3) promoting student social-emotional health, wellness, and interpersonal connectedness within safe school environments, supported by surveys and parent engagement.

The Governing Board held a special meeting to conduct the swearing-in of a new board member and to perform the annual election of officers for the upcoming year. The board reviewed and approved the 2016 meeting calendar, with modifications to a specific June date. Approval was also granted for the LCHS boys' varsity volleyball team to attend an invitational tournament in Honolulu. Other discussions included the LCHS field replacement, the 2016 agenda planning schedule, and the status of an outstanding reimbursement invoice with the City related to School Resource Officer services. The board also held a closed session with no reportable actions.

The Master Plan for English Language Learners guides the La Cañada Unified School District in identifying, serving, and monitoring the academic progress of students not fully fluent in English. Its core objectives are to facilitate rapid English proficiency acquisition and ensure English learners meet rigorous grade-level academic standards. The plan outlines detailed procedures for student identification, assessment using the ELPAC, instructional delivery through differentiated instruction and specialized support, reclassification criteria, and continuous progress monitoring. It also emphasizes staff qualifications and significant parental involvement through ELAC and DELAC, all grounded in federal and state regulations, district policies, and proven educational practices.