1 WHAT IS THE BELMONT ZONE OF CHOICE

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WHAT IS THE BELMONT ZONE OF CHOICE? The Belmont Zone of Choice is identified as the geographic area that includes the following three campuses: Belmont High School 2 Miguel Contreras LC Vista Hermosa High School

All students entering 9 th grade in September 2008, who live in the Zone of Choice, have the option to attend a small school that meets their academic interest. Small schools include: • New Technology HS (NTHS) • Pilot Schools (PS) • Small Learning Communities(SLC) 3

Why Small Schools/SLCs? STUDENTS… Øhave higher attendance rates and lower dropout rates Øhave higher graduation and college attendance rates Øachieve at higher levels Øknow their teachers and classmates well Øenjoy a safer learning environment TEACHERS… Ø know their students well Ø engage more with parents and community Ø work closely with each other Ø welcome community collaboration Ø enjoy higher job satisfaction 4 PARENTS… Ø are known well and their voices are heard Ø become allies with teachers Ø are respected as valuable resources

WHAT DO SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, NEW TECH HS AND PILOT SCHOOLS HAVE IN COMMON… Øall will have an A-G academic curriculum Øall will have a rigorous course of study Øall will be on a Traditional calendar Øall will meet or exceed State Standards Øall will fulfill LAUSD high school graduation requirements Øall will be WASC accredited 5

What are some of the DIFFERENCES between a Small Learning Community, Pilot School and New Tech HS? 6

SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (SLCs) • are housed on a HS campus under the lead of a principal and the collaboration of a lead teacher • have certain flexibilities over teacher selection, curriculum, schedule, and uses of other resources • have California Department of Education code and accreditation under main campus location code New Tech High School (NTHS) • housed in a separate space lead by a New Tech HS principal • certain autonomy over teacher selection, curriculum, budget, professional development, and schedule • has own California Department of Education code and accreditation 7 Pilot Schools (PS) • housed in separate space or building within the larger high school campus under lead of a Pilot governance, School principal • autonomy overthe staffing, budget, curriculum, professional development, assessment, schedule • has own California Department of Education code and accreditation

2008 -2009 Belmont Zone Choice Schools 8

Academic Leadership Community Pilot School located at Miguel Contreras LC • ACADEMICS: The ALC offers an inclusive, college preparatory curriculum, including the AVID program and an advisory class where AVID strategies are offered to each student. • LEADERSHIP: Explore leadership strengths and participates in authentic leadership roles in our school and surrounding community. • COMMUNITY: Annual fieldtrips to local colleges, college mentors, and after school community classes, community college classes, and internships for all students. • Wide range of Honors and AP level classes including Honors English 9 and 10, Honors, Chemistry, Honors World History, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP United States, History, and AP Calculus. 9 • Affiliations and partnerships with colleges and community groups including Loyola Marymount University, Santa Monica College, LACC, and the LA Chamber of Commerce.

Activists for Educational Empowerment Small Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS • Emphasis on a Human Services career path: Psychology, Sociology and Internship. • A-G courses are team-taught and project-based team taught, career based and emphasize social issues. • Grade-level advisory classes will have a social issue theme where students will complete a minimum of 100 service hours and a culminating servicelearning project at the end of four year. • Opportunities for student leadership, college mentoring and outreach, tutoring and enrichment, college and job shadowing, and social/academic events and field trips. 10 • Seniors will have the opportunity to travel to a region in the world where they will experience life in another country and participate in a community service project during their stay.

Business and Finance Small Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS • Our academic focus is the world of general Business and Finance. • Learn about economics, the world of finance, and careers in the business and finance services industry. • Opportunities for volunteer and paid business Internships • Job Shadowing and Business speakers are an integral part of our Small Learning community. 11 • All activities culminate in a special graduation (which includes a certificate and an AOF Medal). Graduation is hosted by Urban Educational Partnership.

Business and Tourism Small Learning Community located at Miguel Contreras LC • Students will be provided with a quality high school program to allow students to move in a college and career pathway. • Engage in interdisciplinary learning, service learning and inquiry-based projects • Opportunities for interaction with the business sector through job-shadowing, internships, project-based assessment practices • Visits to museums, universities, and theatre performances 12 • Students will be eligible for business scholarships and a graduation ceremony sponsored by the OMNI Hotel.

Civitas SOL Pilot School located at Vista Hermosa HS • Civitas School of Leadership (SOL) is a "1 to 1" School, meaning that every student receives a modern Apple Laptop Computer for the duration of their High School Education. • Classes are held all over Los Angeles County, both indoors and outdoors, not just in our school building. • Students are Artists, Athletes, Musicians, Organizers, and Leaders in their community. • Civitas SOL is a Project-Based Learning School, where learning is made real and relevant to students' lives through projects that include all subject areas. 13 • Civitas SOL is a community in which every student is known and appreciated for who they are as an individual, for what makes them unique among their peers.

Computer Science Academy Small Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS • The Computer Science Academy course of study is enhanced by computer literacy. • Students will be enrolled in one computer class per semester four years along with the required courses. • A unique feature of our program is the adoption of hybrid-based, project-based and scaffold-based learning techniques as a part of classroom instruction. • We have partnerships with colleges, businesses and community centers 14 • Opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities such as volunteer work, internships, mentoring, film production and web design projects.

International School of Languages Small Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS • ISOL offers students 3 -4 years of foreign language including French, Spanish, and Arabic. • Our career strand is in the public service sector with an emphasis on bilingual clerical work in government, law enforcement and medical occupations. • We are working to develop internships in bilingual office work in the public sector, such as hospitals, government offices and the court system. • We work with organizations such as SALEF, The Cesar Chavez Foundation and Generation Earth. • We offer Advanced placement courses in Biology, Spanish Language and Spanish Literature. 15 • Our many activities include the Annual Spring Festival of Student Work and the Senior Graduation Banquet.

Los Angeles Academy of Medical and Public Service Small Learning Community located at Belmont High School • The Los Angeles Academy of Medical and Public Service (LAAMPS) prides itself in being one of the two SLC’s implementing the AVID program. • LAAMPS participates in the USC / La Curacao Mexican American Academic Achievement program. • Opportunities to participate in the USC upper bound program. • LAAMPS offers off track career technology courses which culminate in an employment-ready certificate upon graduation. • We have established partnerships with local medical facilities to develop and 16 facilitate meaningful student internships.

Los Angeles High School of the Arts Pilot School located at Belmont High School • Be a part of a college preparatory community with computers for each student. • Learn through working and creating together in and outside of the classroom. • Opportunities to participate in the production of three shows a year. • Opportunities to participate in a New Plays Festival to showcase plays written, directed, designed and acted by students. 17 • Juniors will work with Mentors and Seniors may intern at theatres such as A Noise Within Theatre, Shakespeare Festival LA, and Will & Company

Los Angeles School of Global Studies New Tech High School located at Miguel Contreras LC • Computers for every student in every classroom. • Collaborate to solve real-world problems. • Classes that are 100% project-based. • Classes that are team-taught by two teachers and integrated interdisciplinary in block periods (History and English, Math and Science). 18 • Students build resumes that meet rigorous standards of scholarship, community service, internships, and citizenship.

Los Angeles Teacher Preparation Academy Pilot School located at Belmont High School • Participate in rigorous instruction that will prepare you for college and allow you to contribute to your school, community and society as an educator. • Students will be prepared to become effective, powerful teachers. • Participate in a program where teachers are committed to training future educators/teachers. 19

Multimedia Academy Small Learning Community located at Belmont High School • The Multimedia Academy gives students the opportunity to participate in classes where technology is integrated across the curriculum. • We offer a variety of technology courses such as graphic arts, web development, video production, and digital photography. • Students have opportunity to pursue internships and mentoring programs with Fox Studios, the Bresee Foundation, and the Echo Park Film Center. • A new state-of-the-art video production and media 20 studio for Multimedia Academy students will open in one year

School of Awareness and Global Education Small Learning Community located at Belmont High School Highlights of our school include… • a focus on communications and journalism • courses on music and the arts • learn about automotive technology • become aware of issues that effect young adults both locally and globally 21 • college preparation and entry

School of Social Justice Small Learning Community located at Miguel Contreras LC • Participate in a college preparatory program. • Participate in Service Learning projects beyond the graduation requirement. • Participate in a specialized curriculum focused on global issues and a history of social justice including projects that focus on such issues as voter registration, AIDS awareness and immigrant rights. • Attend curricular and field trips. 22 • Opportunities to interact with business and community leaders.

School for Visual Arts and Humanities Pilot School Vista Hermosa HS • Our SMALL SCHOOL will give you the attention, support and skills you need to succeed in your classes. • Learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF and defend your views through classes that connect to each other and to art. • Be creative in ART CLASSES such as Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics and AP Studio Art for all four years of high school. • Come to FIELD TRIPS at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Huntington Library and Gardens, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Tolerance, Norton Simon Museum and the Science Center. 23 • Participate in INTERNSHIPS and SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS at Disney Imagineering, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Innerspark and more!

Application Process 24

Who can apply? Students entering the 9 th grade in September 2008, and live in the Belmont Zone of Choice may apply. When can you apply? Applications will be mailed to the homes of 8 th grade students who live within the Belmont attendance area on March 14 th. When does the application period end? 25 Friday, March 28, 2008 at 5: 00 p. m.

How will applications be distributed? • Applications will include a return POSTAGE PAID return envelope. • Applications should be mailed in the envelope provided. • Schools will NOT accept applications. • Applications must be received at Local District 4 by 5: 00 on Friday, March 28, 2008 What happens once the application is received at Local District 4? 26 Applications will be date-stamped and input into the BZOC SIS system as they arrive.

How will students be selected? • Each school will be filled as applications arrive at Local District 4. • Every effort will be made to accommodate students’ first, second, or third choice. • Once a school is full the list will be closed. • Applications, that are not filled out correctly or do not fill out an application by the due date, will complete unfilled school lists. How will students be notified? 27 • Student assignment letters will be mailed to homes the week of April 14 th. • Schools will receive official lists and contact students with orientation information.

How do I pick my school for 9 th grade? Choose by academic interest! 28

Example: I’m interested in Law Enforcement My selections would start with #1 as my first choice, #2 second, #3 third choice, #4 fourth choice, … #15 as last choice. Pref # (1 -14) 29 School Name Type of Small School Site (SLC, Pilot, New Tech) 4 Academic Leadership Community Pilot School Miguel Contreras LC 3 Academy for Educational Empowerment Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS 10 Business and Finance Academy Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS 9 Business and Tourism Small Learning Community Miguel Contreras LC 5 Civitas SOL Pilot School Vista Hermosa HS 8 Computer Science Academy Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS 13 International School of Languages Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS 11 Los Angeles Academy of Medical and Public Services Small Learning Community Belmont HS 6 Los Angeles High School of Global Studies New Tech HS Miguel Contreras LC 15 Los Angeles High School of the Arts Pilot School Belmont HS 14 Los Angeles Teacher Preparation Academy Pilot School Belmont HS 12 Multimedia Academy Small Learning Community Belmont HS

Important to remember: • Fill out your the application completely and correctly • use the return postage paid envelope to mail your application • do not return applications to any school site 30 • application must be received by 5: 00 p. m on Friday, March 28 th

Questions? • Please contact your school Middle School administrator • Visit the Local District 4 website at: http: //www. lausd. net/District_4/ -click on “Offices” -click on “Belmont Zone of Choice” • Contact Local District 4 at: (323) 932 -2000 or (323) 932 -2221 31

Booths are available for you to visit to obtain more information on each Small School. Thank you for your attending. 32