LASD Board Highlights

Each school year, students take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test. The CAASPP System helps teachers, administrators, students, and parents through the use of a variety of assessment approaches. The CAASPP tests measure student performance in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science.

Overall, student performance in the Los Altos School District far exceeds state averages, with students performing among the best in the state. On average, student performance across California shows 46.66% in ELA, 34.62% in Math, and 30.18% in Science meeting or exceeding state standards. Overall, LASD students perform well above these averages, with students meeting or exceeding state standards at the following rates: 84.79% English Language Arts, 84.10% Math, and 79.79% in Science.

Demographic subgroups in LASD, including students with disabilities, English Language Learners and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, also perform above the state averages for their subgroups. That said, the data show LASD must address learning gaps among these groups.

Through screening and intervention, equity work, social-emotional learning, the Extended Learning Opportunity Program, and our excellent academic support staff, LASD is working to close this achievement gap. Our students are making gains and we feel confident they will continue to do so with our ongoing support to ensure each child achieves.

Our teachers have been engaged in important Professional Development this year to support a strong, positive learning experience here in LASD. We know that when students feel safe and welcome, they excel academically.

One essential component of a positive learning experience is an Environment of Safety and Belonging in all classrooms. In order for students to take risks, feel empowered, and persevere, they must feel a sense of belonging and security at school. To help students create this sense of belonging, teachers pose inquiry questions in subject areas like these below:

• Identity: What makes me who I am?

• Diversity: How are we alike/different?

• Justice: How do we affect each other?

• Action: How can we help each other?

LASD has created many tools for teachers to facilitate these important discussions to develop a safe learning environment in their classrooms. Tools included instructional standards shared by all teachers and curated books by grade level. This process unfolding in all classrooms will continue with each child through their academic path here in LASD, providing them with a safe community in which to learn and thrive.

For more information, please check out item H.2. on our online agenda.

Last Thursday, our junior high students were issued Chromebooks for use at school and at home. This change from classroom-based devices to student-carried devices has been made to better prepare students for high school and make instruction more efficient for teachers and students, but it will also generate an overall cost savings for the district.

This was a huge undertaking with various departments and administrators collaborating to make this important shift possible. At the Board meeting, one student explained the positive benefits of the responsibility of her own computer, as well as the preparation and organization having her own laptop has helped her achieve.

We're very excited about this major change in student learning. For more information and to view the student testimonials, check out the video from the January 22 Board meeting.

As it continues to research the best plan for a new school site to resolve the school sharing challenge in the Los Altos School District, where 10 schools share 9 sites, the Board heard an update on the CEQA Review Process. CEQA requires public agencies to “look before they leap,” and consider the environmental consequences of major projects, such as the construction of a public school. CEQA is intended to inform government decision makers and the public about the potential environmental effects of proposed activities and to prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage.

To go through the process, the District will be submitting plans for the school site for environmental review, including the site design layout.The Board discussed these potential plans during its meeting. You can review the presentation by checking out item I.2. on our agenda online.