QEIA Funds
The Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) was passed by the California state legislature in 2006 to provide API 1-2 schools with additional funds to improve teaching and learning throughout California.
InnerCity Struggle gained support from district and school officials to give priority to Eastside high schools and middle schools to receive $200 million in QEIA funds to reduce class size over the next seven years. Once the QEIA legislation had passed, ICS youth and parent leaders did recognize that the four LAUSD high schools in East Los Angeles and their respective feeder middle schools needed these funds from the state. In the categories of teacher qualifications, overcrowding, test scores, graduation rates, the East LA high schools ranked near the bottom of all high schools in the district and fell in the API 1-2 category therefore were qualified to receive funds.
Through an advocacy and education campaign, ICS proposed that the following steps be implemented by the district for the use of QEIA funds in Eastside high schools and middle schools: 1) An increase of A-G classes offered so all middle and high school students are prepared to attend a 4-year university; 2) Investment in professional development to ensure successful outcomes in core courses; 3) Funds to be utilized to develop mechanisms to communicate with parents about graduation and college requirements.
ICS met with school and district officials to gain their support in accessing QEIA funds for the purpose of increasing college preparatory courses in our local schools. Our supporters included: School Board Representative Mónica García, then Superintendent David L. Brewer III, and then Local Superintendent Carmen N. Schroeder, including all four principals of each of the high schools and the principal of Hollenbeck Middle School (see Eastside QEIA Community Resolution). ICS was successful in gaining the district's support to allot funds to Eastside high schools and middle schools.
