[Editor’s Note: See below the entire text of the flyer “Questions & Answers for LAUSD Permit Applicants” that was distributed at yesterday’s informational meeting for families of Culver City permit students.]
Days of steadily accumulating anxiety and anger exploded with a clap of thunder a little after 5 yesterday afternoon when Dr. Myrna Rivera Cote stepped to the microphone before a huge, curious family audience at the Robert Frost Auditorium.
With the LAUSD Permit War against surrounding school districts still in its early skirmishing stage, the Superintendent of the Culver City Unified School District was in an Elmer Gantry mood.
No one ever had seen the brimstone-and-fire side of her professional personality.
If Dr. Ramon Cortines, the under-siege superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, had been in the building adjacent to Culver City High School, he would have been advised to flee for cover so nothing would spill onto him,
“I am saddened by what I have to say this evening,” Dr. Cote said in addressing hundreds of out-of-town parents whose children are enrolled in Culver City schools. Parents came because they wanted to learn how to fight the reversal of LAUSD’s transfer-out policy.
“In my 38 years as an educator in the state of California,” Dr. Cote said, “I never have seen the state’s funding of education as irresponsible, the political lack of understanding and caring for the needs of our children as glaring, and the cut-throat tactics of a fellow Superintendent as reckless and distressing for the children and families who have made the Culver City Unified School District their home.”
Ouch.
Dr. Cortines is principally faulted for belatedly flipping an LAUSD transfer-out permit policy that has cost Los Angeles about $51 million a year in state funding.
Mood Aceleration
When LAUSD formally announced last week it was revoking its transfer-out policy — effective immediately — for all but a few of 12,000 permit students, Culver City and other neighbors first were shocked. Then they became infuriated.
An almost unending parade of parents and children — confused and worried about the implications of the sweeping permit rescission decision — streamed into the Frost throughout the first 30 minutes of the hour and a half informational meeting.
Speaking separately and in unison, School Board President Steve Gourley and Dr. Cote stated emphatically and repeatedly that the suddenly unmoored LAUSD permit portion of the district student body — about 1,467 children, or just under 20 percent of enrollment — is very much wanted and needed in Culver City.
Dr. Cote was upset not only by LAUSD’s earthquake-level policy change — to help Los Angeles narrow its budget gap —but the timing.
“Here are some facts I would like you to know,” she said.
“The new LAUSD Permit Policy was published on March 17, received by us on March 18.
“LAUSD parents who had gotten permits to leave LAUSD began receiving a letter from them on March 22 regarding their new policy.
“Culver City Unified School District also mailed a letter on March 22 to all affected parents, inviting them to a series of informational meetings. This is the first one. ”
The next informational meeting for families whose children are on LAUSD permits is Wednesday, April 7, at the District offices, 4034 Irving Pl., just south of downtown Culver City.
Meetings in Spanish are scheduled for 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., in English at 9 and 11.
After Dr. Cote firmly declared that Culver City was primed to push back, administrator Drew Sotelo, Asst. Director of Pupil Services, took over and turned into a miraculous answer man.
He was easily the most impressive person in the crowded auditorium, presenting a comprehensive power-point program, and then patiently answering questions from the audience. No one could stump him.
Here is the q-and-a flyer Mr. Sotelo handed out.
Questions and Answers for LAUSD Permit Applicants
Culver City Unified School District’s permit timeline will be extended for permit applicants
Q. How do I apply for a release from LAUSD for my child to attend CCUSD?
• Beginning May 1, you may apply for a permit online only.
• You must submit the application online via the LASUSD website, www.lausd.net. Then, under “Families,” you will click on “Enrolling my child.”
• LAUSD no longer is accepting paper permit applications.
• If your home school is an LAUSD charter school, you can no longer get released directly from your charter school. You will need to apply online to LAUSD.
• Before you submit your application to LAUSD, please print a copy for your records.
• If you have any supporting documentation, you must mail it to LAUSD after you have submitted your online application. Put the confirmation number you received, when you submitted your application online, on each side of the documentation you mail to LAUSD. Keep a copy for your records.
Q. What type of permits will LAUSD approve?
a. Parent Employment Permits. To qualify for a Parent Employment Permit, one parent must work inside the geographical boundaries of CCUSD. You must provide proof of employment for the parent who works within CCUSD boundaries. Acceptable proof of employment is:
1. A copy of recent pay stub or pay receipt, and a letter on employer’s stationery verifying employment.
2. If self-employed, a copy of your business, profession or trade license or a copy of the license renewal payment.
b. Senior Status Permits. To qualify for a senior status permit, your student must have attended CCUSD during the 2009-2010 school year and must be entering grades 5,8 or 12 for the 2010/2011 school year. You must provide LAUSD with:
1. A copy of your student’s last report card or current transcript.
c. Specialized Program Permits. CCUSD Specialized Programs are El Marino Language School, La Ballona’s Dual Language Program and Culver City High School’s Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA). To apply for this type of permit, you must provide:
1. Copy of the flyer, brochure or other informational material detailing the specialized program in which the student is interested.
2. Letter from parent/guardian expressing the extent of the student’s interest in the specialized program, and how the program is either unavailable or not comparable at the district of residence.
Q. How will I be notified of LAUSD’s decision to issue a permit for my child?
• LAUSD will notify you of its decision by mail.
• If your permit is approved, you must submit the LASUSD permit release document along with the CCUSD permit application to the CCUSD Permit Office.
• If LAUSD denies your application, they will notify you of your right to appeal, their timeline and procedures.
• You may contact the LAUSD Permit and Transfer Office at 213.745.1960.
• If LAUSD denies your appeal, you may appeal to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). Please see below for permit request considerations that would be considered by LACOE.
• You must complete the LAUSD appeal process before you can appeal to he LACOE.
Q. How do I appeal to the Los Angeles County Office of Education if LAUSD denies my child’s permit?
• The LACOE Appeal Packet can be downloaded at www.LACOE.edu and from the “New LAUSD Permit Procedures” tab on the CCUSD website at www.ccusd.org. A hard copy of the LACOE Appeal Packet also is available at the CCUSD Permit Office.
• Appeal documents must be physically received by the LACOE Child Welfare and Attendance Unit within 30 calendar days following the failure or refusal of a district to issue a permit.
• Specifically, the 30-day time period begins from the date of the final letter of notice from the district, not the date of receipt by the parent.
• To file your appeal, please complete the one-page LASCOE appeal form. The LACOE Appeal Packet is posted. Be sure to attach the following supporting documents and return them to the LACOE office:
1. A copy of the original request for interdistrict transfer permit (if available);
2. Copies of all correspondence between parent and the district denying the permit. Be sure to include the final denial from the local governing board;
3. Additional documents (limit 10 pages) supporting your reason(s) for the permit appeal;
4. An Interpreter Assistance Request form (required, whether or not an interpreter is needed).
Q. What other reasons, other than those permitted by LAUSD, does LACOE consider appropriate to request a permit?
• The student has expressed a genuine interest in an educational class or program, which is both available and beneficial to the student, which cannot reasonably be provided by the district of residence, and the student is, in fact, eligible for, and has committed to taking or has been accepted into, the desired class or program.
• There is evidence of threat or injury to the student, or evidence that the student’s health, welfare or safety are otherwise in clear, present and continuing jeopardy or danger in the district of residence. Written documentation and/or supporting information from doctors, psychologists or other persons should be provided to verify health-related issues.
• There is evidence that the student has a genuine and substantial fear of attending the district of residence. Written documentation and/or supporting information should be provided to verify the presence of substantial fear and/or impact on the student.
• Transportation problems exist that cause a hardship for the student, which are resolved by transfer to the district of attendance.
• The receiving school in the district of attendance is geographically closer to the student’s residence and such proximity to the school is required for child care services or other substantial family needs.
• The district of attendance will accept the student.
• There is present intent to change residence and a substantial likelihood that the change of residence will occur. Supporting information, such as escrow documents, should be provided to verify intent.
• The proposed transfer would not create a significant adverse financial or educational impact on student programs or classes in the district of residence or in the district of attendance.
• Continued enrollment in the district of attendance will promote an important level of continuity that is in the best interest of the student.
• Such other considerations as the County Board may deem appropriate in each case to render a decision on the merits.
If you need assistance in completing your appeal to LACOE, please check at www.ccusd.org for upcoming workshops on appeals, and/or contact the CCUSD Permit Office at 310.842.4220, ext. 4237.