Into the Textbook Breach

The California Community Foundation is putting its funding where its faith is, in resolving the desperate need of Los Angeles’ public schools to reverse their shameful textbook shortage. The philanthropic foundation will not be simply throwing money at the problem but rather establishing a new public-private partnership to probe the root causes. It’s a job the school district should have done itself.

Through its new Schoolbook Partnership Fund, the foundation will contribute $200,000 to buy textbooks and library books for five schools and begin a drive to raise $1 million from public donations to buy more. Some of the district’s library books are so outdated that they predict man will someday land on the moon.

The foundation’s effort will be led by two veteran education advocates, attorney Virgil Roberts, a member of its board of directors, and UCLA management expert William Ouchi, president of the district’s LEARN educational reform program. Their committee will include Deputy School Supt. Ron Prescott and teachers union president Day Higuchi.

The committee’s charge is to raise money and to get to the heart of the problem. The district itself should determine whether it needs to fully restore the central book inventory and rehire the textbook clerks eliminated during past budget shortfalls. It also needs to address the costs of the high student transiency rate. Many students do not leave their books behind when they move away. A reward system to encourage returns is one approach.

The high rate of teacher turnover on some campuses also creates problems. A new teacher often will use books not used by the previous instructor. If every school used the same books in the same classes instead of allowing principals and teachers to choose from the state-approved list, this problem could be eased.

The Los Angeles school board has substantially increased spending on books, and Supt. Ruben Zacarias has instructed principals to use more of the instructional funds controlled at the campus level to restock the shelves. Public education is a public responsibility, but private, district and state funds all are needed to turn the page on this damaging situation.

Students can’t afford to spend any time without the books they need to do their best work at school and at home. The California Community Foundation book drive addresses a critical need but raises the question: Why does the school district need so much help to perform its fundamental tasks?