LAEF Will Raise $2.35 Million for Class Size, Enrichment & 40 Teachers
We are pleased to announce that the Los Altos Educational Foundation has committed to raise $2.35 million for K-8 enrichment programs and to buy back staff to keep class sizes from climbing to 30 across the district in 2011-12.
The grant for 2011-12 was developed by the LAEF Board of parent volunteers with input from many sources. We chose what programs to buy back from the District "cut list" based on the following:
- Parent input from our January survey on current programs and priorities
- District adminstrators on educational priorities
- Individual program costs and quality
- Distribution of program costs proportionally across all grades K-8
- Our best guess on fundraising for the coming year
As a direct result of the LAEF funding for programs, LASD will reinstate a total of 40 teachers/staff: 25 certificated and 15 classified teachers.
LAEF 2011-12 Grant Details:
Please visit the 2011-12 Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) if you have questions about the following details of next year's fundraising commitment to the district.
Here is what the LAEF fundraising commitment will buy back vs. the 2011-12 district baseline*:
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2011-12 District Baseline* |
2011-12 Final Program w/LAEF Funding |
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K-3 core classes capped at 30 7-8 classes average 30 |
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All Elementary enrichment program staff cut (Specialists for PE, Science, Art, Drama, Digital Design, Music, Computer Lab) |
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Libraries closed district-wide |
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*The “baseline” is the term our district uses to describe the educational program LASD can afford with its public sources of revenue like property and parcel taxes plus state and federal funding. The baseline program is what our schools would look like next year if we didn’t have a non-profit foundation funded by parent donations to help fill in the gaps in public support.
LAEF Grant for 2011-12 Programs
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Elementary School Staff: |
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K-3 Class Size |
$900,000 |
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Library Staff |
185,000 |
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PE Specialists |
280,000 |
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Music Specialists |
400,000 |
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Art Docents |
50,000 |
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Living Classroom |
25,000 |
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Junior High Staff: |
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Math Class Size |
$90,000 |
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Science Class Size |
90,000 |
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English Class Size |
90,000 |
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Social Studies Class Size |
90,000 |
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Electives Staff |
100,000 |
|
Library Staff |
50,000 |
|
2011 – 12 Grant |
$2,350,000 |
2011-12 Grant Benefits By Grade
The LAEF board of parent volunteers works very hard to balance our grant as evenly as possible across all grades K-8 so that all children in the district receive a similar value from LAEF grants. This year the program costs range from $239,200 to $269,300 per grade. The grant is also balanced between Elementary and Junior Highs based on the enrollment at each level. The Junior High grant represents 22% of the total grant with Junior High planned enrollment at 22% of total district enrollment for next year.
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Kindergarten |
Grades 1-3 |
Grades 4-6 |
Junior High |
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- Class size max 25 (avg. 22) |
- Class size max 25 (avg. 22) |
- PE twice/wk |
- Math Class Size |
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- Library every other week |
- Library every week |
- Library every other week |
- Science Class Size |
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- Living Classroom |
- Living Classroom |
- 4th Grades: instrumental or vocal music once/week |
- English Class Size |
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- Art Docents |
- Art Docents |
- 5th-6th Grades: instrumental or vocal music twice/week |
- Social Studies Class Size |
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- Living Classroom |
- Library open 5 periods |
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-Art Docents |
- Elective Staff
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Cost: $269,300 per grade |
Cost: $267,500 per grade |
Cost: $239,200 per grade |
Cost: $255,000 per grade |
Note: Program costs are estimates provided by the District Superintendent and his staff. Because these costs are for staff salaries and benefits, they vary based on the experience and pay level of each teacher or specialist that are reinstated in order of seniority once LAEF commits the grant to the District. Therefore, it is difficult to construct a program that has exactly equal costs across all grades, but LAEF makes the best effort to fund equal value to all students.
Make your 2011-12 tax-deductible LAEF contribution today! - Click here to donate online.
To reach our 2011-12 fundraising goal, we’re seeking a one-time donation of $1,000 per child or $100 per month per child.