Public School Choice in Los Angeles

Los Angeles - The future of teaching at several Los Angeles school campuses is now up for grabs. Parents are getting the chance to vote for whether they want LAUSD, charter programs or other groups to run their schools.

Watch Gigi Graciette's video report in the media player.

Story Script:

PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE... THINK OF IT AS A BIDDING PROCESS OR A CAMPAIGN WHERE CHARTER SCHOOLS, LAUSD, EVEN GROUPS OF TEACHERS ALL TRY TO CONVINCE PARENTS TO VOTE FOR THEM, TO LET THEM RUN THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL.

STEFAN BEAN/ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
"VOTE FOR ASPIRE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS."

BRIAN BAUER/GRANADA HILLS CHARTER SCHOOL:
"WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT LARGE SCHOOLS CAN SUCCEED AND WE'VE GOT THE MODEL FOR IT."

JACQUELINE ELLIOT/PUC SCHOOLS:
"WE HAVE A 90% GRADUATION RATE."

IT'S THE LATEST ROUND OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE.... WITH EIGHT CHARTER SCHOOL GROUPS SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO RUN 13 LA UNIFIED SCHOOLS... TRYING TO CONVINCE PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB THAN LAUSD.

STEFAN BEAN/ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
"IF I USE AN ANALOGY OF THE TITANIC VERSUS A SPEEDBOAT. I'LL USE THAT ANALOGY WHERE A DISTRICT IS LIKE THE TITANIC. TO MAKE DECISIONS IT'S VERY SLOW SO YOU'RE GOING TO HIT THE ICEBERG. A SPEEDBOAT, TO MAKE A DECISION, YOU CAN MANUVEUR AROUND THAT ICEBERG VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SMALLER COMMUNITES, WE HAVE SMALLER SCHOOLS."

JACQUELINE ELLIOT/PUC SCHOOLS:
"IN OUR SMALL SCHOOLS WITH 100 OR SO STUDENTS PER GRADE LEVEL TEACHERS KNOW EVERY STUDENT; TEACHERS KNOW EVERY PARENT"

THE CHARTER GROUPS ARE BIDDING TO RUN TEN NEW CAMPUSES... AND THREE UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS... INCLUDING.... HENRY CLAY MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE ON WESTERN AND 124TH STREET, ONE OF LAUSD'S LOWEST PERFORMING MIDDDLE SCHOOLS.

MARCO PETRUZZI/GREEN DOT:
"THERE ARE LOW EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE SCHOOLS FOR THOSE KIDS SO YOU NEED TO SET NEW EXPECTATIONS RIGHT OFF THE BAT"

PARENTS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL GET TO WEIGH IN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS...  WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTING ON THE WINNERS IN JANUARY.