LOS ANGELES — On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, in response to the overwhelming concerns raised by teachers, students, parents, principals, and other school staff, LAUSD came to an agreement with UTLA to move the district’s four optional “Accelerated Days” from random Wednesdays scattered throughout the school year to winter and spring breaks, thus meeting UTLA demands for uninterrupted instruction and fidelity to the contractual work year.
On April 22, 2022, Los Angeles United School District (LAUSD) announced four “Accelerated Days” that are optional for all students and all C-Basis employees—about 80% of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) members. The district chose to add these days at a cost of about $122 million without input from parents, teachers, or other school workers, and without providing a clear purpose or plan.
UTLA members will consider the tentative agreement and vote to ratify the decision by Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
The truth is four optional school days that create disruptions during the school year would not positively impact student learning as much as investing in smaller class sizes, increased mental health supports and robust extracurricular activities. That is why since LAUSD announced the accelerated days, principals, teachers, parents and students alike have all raised their voices to demand the district cancel the unilateral calendar changes they made in April without bargaining. Now, we can focus on real investments for our students. When we stand together, we win for our students, our schools, and our communities.
Phylis Hoffman, Second Grade Teacher at Harry Bridges Span School and member of UTLA.
While the tentative agreement minimizes the education disruptions and costs of the optional days, UTLA continues to call on the district to commit to a plan that correctly budgets for the social, physical, mental and educational needs of all students. The district must commit real dollars to rebuild our long-neglected schools struggling to recover from the pandemic, and make tangible commitments to ensure our students do not come to school hungry, homeless, or sick because they’re surrounded by environmental degradation. When every student, teacher, nurse, counselor, and other school workers have the resources they need, our children and communities will thrive.
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