Concerned Parents Launch Petition, Asking Teachers to Conduct Live Instruction

08Jun
by Roxann Nazario

A group of LAUSD parents from the San Fernando Valley calling themselves Concerned Parents Los Angeles (CPLA) have launched a petition asking for teachers to conduct live virtual teaching for their students in the fall. Per their website, www.concernedparentsla.com, “Concerned Parents of Los Angeles advocate for our children. Our organization was born out of the Covid-19 stay-at-home learning shortfalls and call for action. Our petition asks UTLA and LAUSD to require face-to-face, virtual teacher instruction for our students, and that teachers receive training on how to teach similarly to that of local university models during the pandemic.” 

On April 8th, UTLA (United Teachers of Los Angeles) came to an agreement with LAUSD that live lessons were not required from teachers. The agreement states teachers are required to work 240 minutes (4 hours per day) and they can spread it out over the week as long as it equals a total of 20 hours. However, teachers still retain pay for an 8 hour day. 

The parents leading this movement have legitimate concerns, as there’s inconsistency across the board. Some students have been in contact with their teachers since March 16th, but many have not had any contact at all. Parents are very concerned some students are already falling behind. Last month LAUSD did a survey of parents in East L.A., Southeast L.A. and Boyle Heights; a total of 78% of parents said that they are very concerned their children could fall behind academically. Parents also said they need access to their teachers, and want regular contact. Maryam Qudrat, an educator and parent involved with CPLA says, “We want our teachers back. We miss them.”

CPLA is taking action this Tuesday, June 9th, at LAUSD’s board meeting. Virtual public commenting is now available, so now is the time to speak up. Negotiations between LAUSD and UTLA have begun for the fall semester, and CPLA is hopeful both parties will come to an agreement that includes live teaching. CPLA fully supports teachers, standing alongside them during last year’s teacher strike. The organization wants teachers to get the support they need to start live teaching, while giving children more access to the teachers they depend on. 

*Call to Action*

If you are a parent that resides within LAUSD boundaries and you would also like to see face to face live teaching in the fall, please sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/lausd-and-utla-allow-full-instructional-minutes-for-students-in-the-fall?recruiter=1089938777&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=share_petition&recruited_by_id=8b00aac0-96c2-11ea-8daa-854324c0e44f

Their petition currently has approximately 700 signatures, with a goal of 1,000 signatures by Tuesday, June 9th. Let’s help them get to their goal, and support student learning at the same time.

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Roxann Nazario

Roxann Nazario is a single parent living in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Born and mostly raised in the San Fernando Valley, Roxann experienced her own struggles as a student in LAUSD, growing up in North Hollywood. Roxann pushed through her struggles in school and right after high school she attended The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles, where she received her Associate’s Degree in Interior Design. Roxann made sure to play an active role in her daughter’s education, by becoming an active parent volunteer. From field trips, to book fairs, to starting a new parent group called, Parent Voice, at her daughter’s school. Wanting to get more involved and make a difference, she began to get civilly engaged in local elections by organizing parents in her community. Roxann is now a Parent Engagement Coordinator with Speak UP, where she works with parents in LAUSD’s Board District 3 and 6. Roxann recently became a Board Member on the Sylmar Neighborhood Council. And she proudly represents her Assembly District 39, in the California Democratic Party. Roxann has been a blogger with La Comadre for two years and she is grateful to be a part of the La Comadre Network.

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