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Advocacy Alert:
Advocacy Alert:
Alumni Share Their Stories with the
Alumni Share Their Stories with the
LAUSD School Board
LAUSD School Board
February 27, 2024 -- Equitas Alumni Kaitlyn Vargas and Astro provided public comment at the LAUSD Board of Education Charter School Committee meeting and discussed how Equitas prepared them for success.
What are Charter Schools?
Public charter schools were created with flexibility and accountability to provide an innovative, high-quality education to all California families. There are no academic eligibility requirements to attend public charter schools, and all students are welcome - regardless of their parent's income, zip code, or disability status.
What is the role of an authorizer for charter schools?
The authorizer for Equitas Academy Charter Schools, which is the Los Angeles Unified School District or "LAUSD," does not manage or operate Equitas charter schools. However, LAUSD does approve charter schools like Equitas' schools to operate, which means they determine which charter schools open or close. This is huge! The LAUSD Charter Schools Division conducts an annual oversight assessment to review the ways in which our independent charter organization operates all of the Equitas schools. The governing board of LAUSD makes the final decision to authorize, or allow, Equitas schools to remain open when we go through our “contract” renewal process. So, this governing board makes important decisions that impact the future of Equitas students!
What is the difference between the Board and the Committee?
The LAUSD Board of Education is very important. LAUSD has a publicly elected school board and an appointed superintendent who makes decisions about policies, budget, school curriculum, school operations, etc. In Los Angeles, school board members represent a specific geographic area within the district and support schools in that region while also working together to make collective decisions for all schools in Los Angeles. In an effort to help make policies (which is like setting rules) for charter schools that operate within LAUSD, the LAUSD School Board has created a Charter School Committee.
Committee meetings are the working and learning meetings of the LAUSD School Board. They divide board work into categories that provide members an opportunity to study and review issues within the committee’s area of responsibility in greater detail than possible at the entire board level. Committee meetings serve as the starting point for policies, initiatives, or planning, and make recommendations that are reviewed and possibly approved by the full board at a school board meeting. Topics of interest to the public are generally discussed within a committee before going to the school board for a vote. Public comment, or input, may be accepted at the discretion of the committee chairpersons as time allows during any committee meeting.
Why is it important to share our Alumni Stories?
Our alumni are at the heart of Equitas' work. We know that our scholars are going to do amazing things and create positive change for themselves, their families, and their futures. It is important for the governing board of our authorizing school district to understand the ways an Equitas education and experience impacts educational trajectories and outcomes for our students and the community. Your stories matter. It's important for the school board to know the brilliant scholars and alumni of Equitas.
How can other Alumni share their stories?
● Write a letter of support to each member of the board.
● Support in-person at your charter public hearing.
Please connect with Ms. Leon if you would like to support by sharing your story!
Kaitlyn Vargas [ Class of 2026] .MOVKaitlyn's Public Comment
Kaitlyn is currently a sophomore at CSUN studying Child Development. Kaitlyn spoke about her memories at Equitas and how important it is for her to continue her education by obtaining her bachelor's degree. She is a first-generation college student and the oldest in her family to continue her education beyond high school.
For Kaitlyn she talked about it important it was for her to get a scholarship during her culmination so that she could continue at a private high school. "A memory I can’t seize to forget was on the day of our Equitas culmination ceremony--I remember that afternoon being so anxious and nervous about giving my speech in regards to receiving the character award. I did not tell my family about the speech at all because I wanted to give them that surprise. When I saw my mom stand up, clapping excitedly and giving me the thumbs up, it filled me up with tears because I was so happy to make her proud. To my surprise later on, I also ended up receiving a scholarship award that was only granted to two students." Kaitlyn went on to say how college can be challenging but that she knows once she finishes, it will be worth it to have her family celebrate at her next graduation, "College is hard, it is difficult to transition to the college lifestyle - books, midterms, finals, clubs, sororities - it's all new to me. On the days when I feel the most pressured and stressed, I keep reminding myself to look forward to graduation. I can’t wait to have another moment to make my family proud."
Astro Ovalle [ Class of 2029].MOVAstro's Public Comment
Astro is currently a junior at Alliance Mohan High School where they are actively involved on campus through ASB and Drama Club. Astro is also a first-generation college applicant. Astro's dream college is the University of Pennsylvania and hopes to study Business.
For Astro, they talked about how Equitas was an inviting environment that helped them develop their identity and a community of belonging. They said, "The reassurance of acceptance, the community building with the school and homerooms, to that final camping trip where 1/4 of my classmates got sick, but everyone still enjoyed it nonetheless! That field trip was where I first saw the stars, the first time I was away from home, the first time I built a tent! Equitas gave me a lot of "firsts" that I never thought possible." Astro went on to talk about how much they also enjoy their high school and all the opportunities they have had since leaving Equitas.
Stephanie Leon Alumni Manager Public Comment 1.24.MOVMs. Leon's Public Comment
In addition to having Alumni share their stories, the Alumni Affairs Manager, Stephanie Leon, also got to share other voices that could not make it to the committee meeting then. Ms. Leon started with Equitas Academy Charter Schools back in May and oversees the Alumni Program. She has been able to meet with alumni from all different backgrounds and who are in different points on their success journey. She says it was important to share stories of student resiliency because through resiliency students will find success.
Ms. Leon shared data on the Alumni Program. She stated, "Our most updated data shows that 81% of our Alumni are college enrolled. This means that 201 of our alumni are currently attending a 2 or 4 year institution. We are a small but a mighty charter school organization. Equitas understands the importance of equity and access to higher ed. Which is why while we are proud of our 81% - we still have the responsibility". Ms. Leon focused on how the success of our Alumni comes in all shapes and sizes and how Equitas supports their Alumni, regardless of the path they choose to define their versions of success.
Ms. Leon also gave the story of Brian, Class of 2025. Brian aspires to finish his degree but didn't know where to start. He had been out of school for a while. She stated that, "He said that he wants to enroll again and applied at LACC but just didn’t know where to start. He had tried for weeks to schedule an appointment with the academic counselor but there just wasn’t any availability. This alumnus confided in me that he was ready to just give up. Within 2 hours, we went through his student portal, applied for financial aid, and emailed his counselor." Ms. Leon and Equitas worked hard to help him get to where he wanted to go. He is now currently enrolled at LACC and has already started his first semester."
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