Report 2016-103 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2016-103: Los Angeles Unified School District: It Can Do More to Reduce the Impacts of Removing Teachers From Classrooms Because of Alleged Misconduct (Release Date: October 2016)

Recommendation #6 To: Los Angeles Unified School District

To ensure that it clearly informs reassigned teachers that they may voluntarily pursue professional development during their reassignments, including online training through LAUSD's Learning Zone program, by April 2017 LAUSD should revise the language in its standard reassignment documents.

1-Year Agency Response

The revised bulletin with all of the audit recommendations was issued on July 17, 2017. A final copy will be forwarded to the CSA. The bulletin remains official LAUSD policy.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

LAUSD has amended the form it presents to teachers at the time of formal reassignment to inform teachers that they are allowed to participate in online professional development courses available through the district's Learning Zone program, as well as its Professional Learning Network program. The amended form is included as a standard attachment to the district's revised reassignment policy bulletin, which LAUSD issued in July 2017.

6-Month Agency Response

The relevant bulletin has been revised to remind employees that they can still use their Single Sign-on to enroll in professional development through the District's "Learning Zone" and "My PLN." This is accomplished through a written notice to the reassigned employee. The point is underscored in training sessions as well.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

LAUSD has amended the form it presents to teachers at the time of formal reassignment to inform teachers that they are allowed to participate in online professional development courses available through the district's Learning Zone program, as well as its Professional Learning Network program. The form directs reassigned teachers to use their district credentials to sign in to the programs. This form is an attachment to a policy update that LAUSD plans to make effective on July 1, 2017.

60-Day Agency Response

LAUSD has never denied any reassigned employee the right to pursue voluntary professional development. As discussed in the audit, however, requiring mandatory professional development is not feasible. The LAUSD will emphasize this point in the upcoming revised bulletin. The LAUSD will issue a letter to relevant labor partners as well to ensure they are positioned to advise members accordingly.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2016-103

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.