RE: UPWARDS OF 1,000 SOCES ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS INVISIBLE TO LAUSD!  SOCES, SHERMAN OAKS CENTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES PARENTS DEMAND A RECOUNT TO RESTORE $400,000 IN TITLE 1 FUNDING!

Based on the information published in The Los Angeles Times on May 20, 2013, District officials confirmed that the deadline for free and reduced lunch applications was actually October 3, 2012, as opposed September 28, 2012.

SOCES parents and administration inquired about the “extended deadline” with the district in September 2012 and were told that there was no extension.  The applications turned in to the school after September 28 and prior to October 3 should have counted towards the school’s total percentage of economically disadvantaged students in need, but were not.

There were several parents at SOCES who reported that they were asked multiple times to fill out the lunch application because one was never received for their student.  Some applications are directly sent to the District with no confirmation of receipt and some are turned in at the school site. Therefore there is no clear way to keep track and account for each qualifying student.  This is an indication of how the system of tallying economically disadvantaged students is flawed.

In 2011-12 when the percentage was changed from 40% to 50% AFTER all the applications were turned in and tallied, SOCES lost its Title 1 funding for the 2012-13 school year.  LAUSD’s official report card was released and mailed to all parents, and clearly indicated that SOCES had 50% economically disadvantaged students.  Why did LAUSD report on a district confirmed “official document” that SOCES had 50% economically disadvantaged students and then not fully fund the students in need for the 2012-13 school year?  LAUSD only funded half the Title 1 funds (Hold Harmless) because the school was told that it did not meet the new required 50% threshold.  Had we received the full Title 1 funding for the 2012-13 school year, SOCES would be entitled to, at the very least, Hold Harmless funds for 2013-14 school year, helping avoid the economic devastation we face next year.

The allocation of funds for economically disadvantaged students is at the sole discretion of the LAUSD.  The District could elect to serve all its economically disadvantaged schools by coming up with an allocation per Title 1 child.  The district has chosen not to do this.  LAUSD has turned its back on these students in need.  The District currently funds only school-wide programs for economically disadvantaged students only if an arbitrary 50% is met at their school.  There is no “true accountability” throughout the district of Title 1 funds since the District is using the funds in such a broad manner.  Therefore, the individual child does not receive help as an individual, but rather as a group, again if an arbitrary 50% is met at their school.  All children living in poverty ARE equal, and deserve equal funding.

SOCES is solely a Magnet school.  Our students travel from all over Los Angeles, from all different socioeconomic backgrounds to attend this “jewel of LAUSD.”  A large number of parents of economically disadvantaged students speak English as a second language or do not speak English at all, and may not understand the importance of the free and reduced lunch applications. Therefore it is incumbent upon the District to clearly disseminate information to ALL parents in an organized, timely and fair manner regarding the applications and how it directly pertains to funding for economically disadvantaged students.

Due to the internal confusion acknowledged by Dr. Deasy in the May 20, 2013 Los Angeles Times article, we believe that SOCES should be reconsidered for Title 1 funding for the 2013-14 school year.  The 50% “Economically disadvantaged students percentage” must be upheld, and the applications received between September 28th and October 3rd must be counted.