Rising from the Margins - Inglewood Unified School District Part I

Episode two of the series highlights Highland Elementary in the Inglewood Unified School District, which received state emergency funds. Since April 2018, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) has been involved with the district, and the enactment of AB 1840 in September 2018 brought significant changes. This law shifted the management of financially struggling districts from a state-centered approach to local control, involving new fiscal and academic responsibilities. As a result, Inglewood Unified is now led by Los Angeles County Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo, County Administrator Dr. James Morris, and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Bernadette Lucas. The first part of the episode focuses on piloting the IAM program at Highland Elementary, under Principal Mr. Jones, with plans to consider its district-wide implementation. The upcoming second part will explore the role of teacher leadership, collaboration, and data-driven strategies in the success of the Intensive Assistance Model at Highland Elementary, emphasizing student-specific needs.