UTLA and LAUSD Reach an Agreement: Here it is

Latino Los Angeles01/22/2019

3 minutes read

After 6 days on strike, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) have reached an agreement. Below is a summary of that agreement that both, teachers and the School Board, must now approve.

Privatization/Charter Cap

The Board of Education will vote on a resolution calling on the state to establish a charter school cap and the creation of a Governor’s committee on charter schools at the next BOE meeting.

School Funding

UTLA, LAUSD and the Mayor’s office will jointly advocate for increased county and state funding. This includes but is not limited to funding for nurses, special education and community schools. The Mayor will also endorse the Schools and Communities First ballot initiative and will work together with LAUSD and UTLA on advocating for the passage of this initiative.

Class Size

Complete elimination of Section 1.5, which had previously allowed the district to unilaterally ignore all class size averages and caps. Reduction in class sizes by norm day is as follows and additional equity investment will reduce some class sizes throughout all 4 years:

2019-2020 – reduction of 1 student, secondary cap of 39 for ELA and Math
2020-2021 – reduction of 1 additional student (2 aggregate)
2021-2022 – reduction of 2 additional students (4 aggregate)
Effective by norm day 2022, the district shall comply with the class size averages and maximums in Section 2.0.

Salary

A 3% retro salary increase for the 2017-2018 school year and a 3% salary increase retro to July 1st, 2018.

Nurse in Every School

For the 2019-2020 school year, the district will hire 150 full-time Nurse positions. For the 2020-2021 school year, the district will hire at least 150 full-time Nurse positions, which will provide a full- time Nurse at every school five days a week.

Community Schools

By June 30, 2019, the district will designate 20 community schools. By June 30, 2020, the district will designate an additional 10 community schools. These community schools will have additional funding and UTLA positions, including a Community Schools Coordinator position. Local School Leadership Councils at community schools will have full discretion over all budgetary items outside of School Site Council.

Librarians

For the 2019-2020 school year, the district will hire 41 full-time Teacher Librarian positions. For the 2020-2021 school year, the district will hire at least 41 Teacher Librarian positions, which will provide a full-time Teacher Librarian at every secondary school campus five days a week.

Counselors

The district will hire at least 17 additional full-time Counselors by October 1, 2019, allowing the district to maintain a counseling service ratio of 500-1 per secondary school.

Special Education

2 release days for testing, access to regular caseload reports, improved language on caseload caps, improved rights for SPED teachers.

Early Education Workday

All Early Educators will have an 8-hour workday inclusive of a 30-minute duty-free lunch.

Co-Location

By December 1 and February 1 of each year, the district will provide UTLA with a list of all schools threatened by co-location. At each co-located school site, a UTLA co-location coordinator will be elected and empowered to be part of the development of the Shared Use agreement.

Testing

Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, a joint UTLA/LAUSD committee will be created and tasked with identifying all district assessments. The committee will develop a plan to reduce the amount of assessments by 50%.

Local School Leadership Councils

Pilot as part of a community schools program for majority vote control over school site budgets.

“Random” searches

A pilot program that exempts schools from administering random searches will be extended for up to 28 schools. This will be phased in by the 2021-2022 school year and city services will be provided for student safety during the pilot program.

Green Space: A joint Green Space Task Force between LAUSD, UTLA and the City of Los Angeles will be created and be charged with presenting a plan to increase green space including removing bungalows, removing asphalt, creating greener play areas, water retention systems, and Community School Parks by December 2019.

ROC/ROP Prep Period

Prep period for ROC/ROP teachers.

Substitute Educators

Increased continuity rate and extended rate for long-term assignments in special education. Expanded protection for late notifications.

Adult Education

Improved language on longevity, part-time leaves and replacing tenured teachers. Agreed on MOU around pay equity and piloted matrix at 4 schools.

Workspace for Itinerant Employees

All itinerants will be provided a reasonable workspace at school sites. An appeal process for itinerants to request alternative space will be provided.

Transfers/Magnet Conversion

Ensures that UTLA members at a school site will have a vote prior to a magnet conversion.

UTLA Rights

Chapter chair sign off local school budgets and waivers, expanded chapter chair rights for subs and itinerants, including the right to speak about UTLA issues at district-wide and local district meetings.