Credit: Karla Scoon Reid/EdSource Today

Armando Gutierrez, an assistant principal at Lowell Unproblematic Schoolhouse, writes down parents' concerns and comments during a Local Command and Accountability Programme meeting at King Unproblematic School in Santa Ana in April 2014.

Credit: Karla Scoon Reid/EdSource Today

Armando Gutierrez, an banana principal at Lowell Simple School, writes down parents' concerns and comments during a Local Command and Accountability Plan meeting at Male monarch Elementary Schoolhouse in Santa Ana in April 2014.

The Santa Ana Unified School Commune board unanimously approved its 3-year spending and accountability plan to improve student achievement Tuesday.

While the state-mandated plan outlines the district'southward goals and expectations, Santa Ana Unified schools will play an integral office in shaping how those objectives will be met at their individual sites. Schools volition have a total of $8.five million in discretionary funds at their disposal to meet their students' specific needs. The district expects to give schools even more fiscal flexibility by directing some dollars earmarked for district-wide initiatives to private sites too.

California'south new funding law requires all districts to develop a Local Control and Accountability Programme with considerable customs input to map out their educational priorities and strategies. Districts besides must demonstrate how they will boost services for high-needs students — low-income youth, English learners and foster children. All plans must be adopted by July one.

Although the public outreach efforts and meetings are officially over, Deidra Powell, the district'due south chief communications officer, said the district is committed to standing the community conversations every bit the plan moves toward the implementation stage.

"I think that people value that the district is interested in what they have to say," Powell said. "They do have a voice. They practise have a platform and they feel comfortable in standing that human relationship."

The final version of Santa Ana Unified's accountability plan includes changes that address concerns raised by community advocates, parents and students regarding the district'south student discipline approach and anti-bullying efforts. The commune's school climate goals mention "restorative justice programs," a less castigating student discipline method, as an option to aid improve student behavior. The plan likewise calls for the commune to conduct anti-bullying awareness and "safe and sensitive" schools campaigns to back up creating a welcoming environment for all students.

David Haglund, the commune'south deputy superintendent of educational services, said that calculation a budget particular to fund a specific restorative justice plan would accept been likewise limiting. Instead, he said the district and lath committed to supporting a "culture shift" regarding student subject field across the school system.

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