Emerson Middle School
Charter Proposal
Becoming a Los Angeles Unified AFFILIATED
Charter
Today’s Agenda
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Welcome
Introduction to the charter process
Parent Perspectives – PACE
Academic program overview
Academy models and expectations
Building project update
Panel Discussion – Q&A
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Please write your questions on index cards. Our panel will
answer questions at the end of the presentation.
Charters in LAUSD
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There are two types of charter schools in the Los
Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) - Affiliated and
Independent. Both must be approved by the school
board.
Emerson has chosen the AFFILIATED model to:
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Maintain Emerson as a neighborhood school
Strengthen the current feeder pattern (Saturn, Nora Sterry,
Warner, Fairburn, Brockton, Roscomare, Westwood Charter)
Continue to serve the diverse population that is Emerson’s
strength
Affiliated Charter
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Funded and function similarly to traditional district
schools. (e.g., Paul Revere, Westwood Charter)
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Adhere to District policy
Define school’s philosophy, curriculum, personnel,
assessment, and governance
Purchase services from the district
Teachers and staff continue to be members of the District’s
collective bargaining units
More site-based freedom over budgeting and educational
programming, professional development, and site specific
policies
Receive free district facilities and the District continues to
provide administrative support services
Independent Charter
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Operates outside LAUSD but within California
Educational Code
No organizational support from the District
Must provide their own administrative functions,
including human resources, employee benefits, finance,
payroll, accounting, and facilities (e.g., New L.A., New
West, City Charter, *Palisades)
*Started as an affiliated charter in LAUSD.
LAUSD Affiliated Charter Review Process
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Six months minimum for approval
Lots of reviews leading to possible revisions
Why a Charter at Emerson?
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Process for Emerson teachers and administration to do
a self assessment and most effectively meet the
academic and developmental needs of our students
Engage broader group of stakeholders (parents, staff,
students, and community) in supporting their
neighborhood school
Strengthen current feeder pattern of schools and give
opportunities to other families through open enrollment
Highlight the “public” in public education
Parent Perspective
Maureen Feldman, PACE
Who is PACE?
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Partnership in Academics + Community at Emerson
(PACE)
Emerson parent organization
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Parents, teachers, students, administrators
Involved in school governance & enrichment
Fundraising
Examples of programs supported by PACE
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Drama
Music
Speech & Debate
Off-campus field trips
Technology & supplies
PACE Involvement in Charter Process
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Active participation in development meetings with
teachers and administration
Positions on Charter governance council
Advisory councils from each feeder school
For more information go to www.thepacesite.com
Updates on the Charter process will be given at
upcoming PACE meetings
Next PACE meeting, May 21, 6:30 pm
Academic Model
Terese McKinney, Assistant Principal
Academic Core
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Academic core consists of (as defined by LAUSD):
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Math
Science
Social Science
English
Elective
Physical Education
Curricular Focus
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Writing across ALL content areas
Active Reading
Academic Conversation
Charter Focus
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21st Century Skills and Common Core Standards
Academies
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Theme-based personal learning environments (PLE)
Communities of students that bond and share the same
experiences
Teachers work together to nurture and mentor students while
monitoring their academic and social-emotional growth
Students are exposed to unique experiences and challenged to
think critically using the academy theme as a lens
Emerson Academies
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Academy themes
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Emerson Sports Academy (ESA) – established in 2009
Emerson Arts and Media Academy
Emerson Math and Science Academy
Students select academies
6th graders will select after the first 10 weeks
Academy advisory periods
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40-minute class period every day
Citizenship and social skills development
Study skills
Academy projects
Teacher mentorship
Emerson Sports Academy
Promoting academic and athletic success for
today’s student athlete
Noriko Nakada, Teacher
ESA
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Our students balance a rigorous academic and athletic
program through:
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Wooden’s Pyramid of
Success
Use of Cornell notes
Accelerated Reader
2.5 GPA
Partnership with UCLA
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Emotional and mental
development
Nutrition education
Strength and conditioning
activities
Student empowerment
ESA Activities
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Jog-a-thon
UCLA adopt a classroom
UCLA field trips
Emerson Dodger game
Bruin for a day
Santa Barbara field trip
CAA Partnership
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Team visits from high school
and college athletes
ESA athletic tournaments
Intramural athletic
tournaments
Visits from professional
athletes
ESA achievement patches
ESA
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ESA students maintain a portfolio, updated every five
weeks that includes:
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Goal setting
Analysis of physical and academic progress
High school and college inquiry
Community service
Parent Engagement
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Parents are encouraged to participate to the fullest
extent possible
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Parents must attend one grade-level specific meeting during
the school year
Parents must attend one ESA activity through volunteerism or
donation during the school year
Parents are invited to attend workshops offered throughout
the year
Arts and Media Academy
Following your passion to an enriched
future
Kelly Graham, Teacher
Our Guiding Theme
Cultivating an appreciation of artistic perspectives
through a variety of experiences and media
“Every artist was first an amateur.”
---Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our Vision and Mission
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Nurture and develop talents
Increase experiences
Respect diversity of expression
Aesthetic valuing
Explore career opportunities
“The world is but a canvass to our imagination.”
---Thoreau
Media Related Projects
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Play production
Speech and debate
Photography
Video production
Graphic arts
Music/dance
Script writing
Emerson news show
Parent Engagement
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Patrons of the arts
Guest speakers
Activity leaders
Classroom support and campus events
Professional experts
Public relations/publicity
Community partnerships
Mentoring
Science and Technology Academy
“Nature and Space Explorers”
Amber Popp, Teacher
What is Science Academy?
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Extension and enhancement of the curriculum
A journey to discover the unknown
An adventure where the only equipment needed is your
five senses
A place to wonder, ask questions and seek the answers
“ All life is an experience. The more
experiments you make the better”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Science and Technology Academy
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What will kids do?
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Why are students doing this?
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Experiment, explore, build, play, create, deconstruct, imagine,
analyze, innovate and invent
To promote imagination, curiosity, and play
Prepare students for the incredible trips to Yosemite National
Park, the Channel Islands, and Physics trips to various
Amusement Parks
Projects: Robotics, Rocket Building, Science Fair, Chemical
Reactions, Build Models
Utilize Lessons from NASA Education Program
What Do We Need to Make It Happen?
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Parent involvement and support
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Student Commitment
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Fund Raising Events and donate supplies
Organize Field Trips
Guest Speakers/Presenters
Assist in Creating Community Contacts
Be willing to execute and construct experiments
Passion for exploring the outdoors
Work cooperatively
UCLA Partnership
Science and Technology Academy
Campus Redevelopment
Dimone Watson, Principal
Campus Redevelopment
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Facilities Services Division
COMMUNITY MEETING – DESIGN UPDATE
for the
Emerson Middle School Redevelopment Project
Project Overview and Status Update
April 30, 2013
Project Milestones
Emerson Middle School Redevelopment Project
Overview
PROJECT SCOPE - Anticipated Construction Start Date
• Science Classroom Improvements – Complete
• Repurposed Art and Computer Classrooms – In Progress
• Reconfigured Staff Parking Lot – Summer, 2013
• New Gymnasium – Winter, 2014
• New Parent and Bus Drop-off – Summer, 2014
• New Synthetic Field – Spring, 2015
PROJECT MILESTONES
• Design Complete:
• Agency Approval:
• Construction Start:
• Project Complete:
Fall, 2012
Winter, 2013
Summer, 2013
Summer, 2015
Panel Discussion
Q&A