NLMUSD pushes to meet educational goals during mid-year update

Members of the NLMUSD school board listens as Assistant superintendent Kristine Cvar explains how the district is working to meet its LCAP goals this academic year. Photo by Vincent Medina

NORWALK – The Norwalk La-Mirada Unified School District received the mid-year Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) during their board of education meeting on Monday.

The LCAP outlines the district’s plan to improve student engagement, education, attendance, accessibility and expenditures. Through the mid-year update, the community is updated on the district’s progress to meet its goals this year.

Assistant superintendent Kristine Cvar and coordinator Michelle Centeno presented the LCAP, and began by explaining the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds and LCFF supplemental/concentration grants. The grants are distributed depending on the needs of students, allowing the district more freedom to decide how funds are spent.

“These go to the districts with our unduplicated pupils (UDP) that are over 55%, and Norwalk La-Mirada has over 55% of UDP,” Cvar explained.

An unduplicated pupil is a student who is categorized as an English learner and qualifies for free/reduced meals or is in a foster program.

The total LCFF funds per the First Interim amounted to $212,935,352. While the LCFF Supplemental/Concentration Grants were $39,598,063.

Goal 1 - Engaging and Responsive Climate and Culture

NLMUSD allocated $21,733,158 towards improving socio-emotional well-being, aiming to support safety and provide access to counseling services. The district’s goal is to achieve a 97.5% attendance rate, reduce suspension and dropout rates. However mid-year data shows attendance at 92.6%, a 3.3% suspension rate, a 2.26% dropout rate and three expulsions.

Goal 2 - College and Career Ready Graduates

Utilizing the estimated $11,794,103 towards preparing students for higher education and their career, the district aims to engage in a college-going culture and support personalized learning. The graduation rate has increased from 93.1% during the 2019-2020 academic year, to a projected 93.7% graduation rate during the 2023-2024 academic year. The district aims for a 94.5% graduation rate.

The completion of A-G courses improved, as 47.9% of students met the criteria during the 2022-2023 academic year, passing the goal of 40%. It is also an improvement from the 36.7% of student completion in 2019.

Enrollment in AP courses declined, as 20.13% of students are enrolled in at least one AP class during the ‘23-’24 academic year. Approximately 24.07% of students were enrolled in at least one AP class in 2020.

The AP exam pass rate also saw a minor improvement as 45% of students passed, but the district has the goal set at 50% or higher pass rate.

Goal 3 - Exemplary Staff

Under goal 3, the board of education set the goal of improving professional development and enhancing instructional programs with the investment of $5,162,255. The district is making efforts to increase academic growth in both English Language Arts and Math, with these efforts measured by student’s success rate.

Goal 4 - Parent and Community Engagement

NLMUSD is working toward increasing parent and district community communication and participation. The board has allocated $575,173 to the endeavor with more opportunities for community input and building stronger relationships between schools and parents.

Approximately 3,685 Parents responded to the Panorama survey according to the 2020-2021 baseline, but the district has set the goal for 4,026 responses this academic year.

The district also aims for a 10% annual increase in parent workshop participation from 1,281 parents in the ‘20-’21 baseline. As of the mid-year update there are 546 parents engaging in the workshops.

Goal 5 - Access to Rigorous Instruction and Support

While the Attendance rate is the only data to measure students’ access to high quality instruction with academic and behavioral supports, the district has allocated $68,738,554 toward the goal of improving English and Math scores. The district also aims to provide a variety of learning supports and necessary interventions and provide students with appropriate technology tools, resources and training.

Goal 6 - Operational Excellence

The district has invested $158,962,467 into providing safe and welcoming environments with standards-aligned textbooks and instructional materials.

The goal is measured by the progress of maintaining schools in good or exemplary repair, as assessed by the School Accountability Report Card (SARC). NLMUSD has successfully maintained 100% of its sites in good or exemplary condition.

The goal also requires 100% of schools report textbooks sufficiency as per the Williams Report, and the mid-year update shows the district met this goal.

Also 1,000 staff members participated in the district’s Wellness Program, an increase from the 825 staff members during the 2020 - 2021 baseline.

Goal 7 - Special Education

The final goal of the LCAP is to enhance support for disabled students. Utilizing the budget of $159,577, the district has outlined strategies to improve educational outcomes including collaboration between teachers, providing development on inclusive practices and conducting ongoing evaluations to adjust instruction and support.

They set the goal to increase English Language Arts (ELA) and Math scores for disabled students to move from “Very Low” to “Medium” proficiency levels. A new focus on reducing chronic absenteeism among disabled students was introduced, with the district aiming to decrease rates from “Very High” to “Medium.”