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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Glendale Unified. We found 14 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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District Mandates LGBTQ+ and ‘Bias Mitigation’ Teacher Training
Under Item I.2.b, the board is reviewing new staff development policies (4131, 4231, 4331) that mandate LGBTQ+ ‘cultural competency’ training for all teachers of grades 7-12. The policy also introduces ‘bias mitigation training’ and legally protects teachers for admissions of ‘personal bias’ made during these sessions, creating a risk of ideological pressure and struggle sessions.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a first reading of a dangerous policy. Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Vote NO on the revisions to policies 4131, 4231, and 4331 under Item I.2.b. Our teachers need to focus on academic excellence, not ideological training and bias struggle sessions.’
💰 Impact: Teacher Ideological Training
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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District Hires Outside ‘Behavior Specialists’ for $650,000
Item J.1.c approves a $650,000 contract with Behavioral Emotional & Academic Mentoring (BEAM), LLC to place ‘Behavior Intervention Specialists’ in all elementary after-school programs. These outside contractors will provide ’embedded behavioral support,’ ‘self-regulation & social coaching,’ and ‘manage behavioral triggers,’ functioning as school-based therapists without direct parental consent for each intervention.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND A VOTE: This is a massive expenditure for a program that inserts third-party behavioral coaches into our kids’ lives. Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Vote NO on the $650,000 contract with BEAM, LLC (Item J.1.c). Parents, not outside vendors, should be the primary guides of a child’s emotional and behavioral development.’
💰 Impact: $650,000
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Student Data-Mining Through ‘Panorama Surveys’ and MTSS
An update on student achievement (Item I.1.a) reveals the district’s ‘next steps’ include a focus on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to target students for interventions. The presentation materials (Attachment 1) explicitly name ‘Panorama Surveys’ as a data source, confirming the use of this controversial vendor for collecting sensitive social-emotional data on students.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND ANSWERS: The district is using Panorama to collect psychological data on our kids. Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item I.1.a, I demand to know what specific data is collected by Panorama Surveys, how it is used in the MTSS framework, and what the specific opt-out process is for my child. We do not consent to psychological profiling in schools.’
💰 Impact: Your Child’s Privacy
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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District Approving $129K Student Assessment & Data Platform
Hidden in the Purchase Order list (Item K.2.b, Attachment 23) is a $129,250 payment to NWEA for its MAP Growth testing platform. This is a major student assessment and data collection system used to track students, often forming the backbone of data dashboards and intervention systems like MTSS.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull the Purchase Order for NWEA (Item K.2.b) from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and vote. What student data does NWEA collect, who is it shared with, and how can parents opt out?’
💰 Impact: $129,250
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District Spends $248k on New Online Literacy Program
Item J.1.b is a $248,255 contract for ‘Imagine Learning Language and Literacy,’ a new online supplemental program for K-6 students. This introduces another screen-time program into the classroom with no public evidence presented that it improves academic outcomes or what direct teacher instruction it will replace.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND EVIDENCE: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Before voting on Item J.1.b, please publish independent, non-vendor-funded evidence that Imagine Learning produces academic gains. Parents also need to know how many minutes of daily screen time this adds and what teacher-led activities it will replace.’
💰 Impact: $248,255 + Lost Instruction Time
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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Vague Policy Changes on Curriculum and Parent Opt-Outs
Item I.1.e proposes revisions to key policies on selecting instructional materials (BP 6161.1) and supplementary materials (BP 6161.11), including how parent opt-out requests are handled. The actual text of these revised policies was not included in the agenda packet, preventing any public review before the first reading.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attachments for Item I.1.e in the Official Agenda (linked above) to find the actual policy text. Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Postpone the first reading of policy revisions in Item I.1.e. The public cannot provide feedback on documents that are not readily accessible in the agenda.’
💰 Impact: Parental Review Rights
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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District to Replace Economics with Personal Finance for Graduation
In response to a new state law, the district is presenting a plan (Item I.1.d) to make a one-semester Personal Finance course a graduation requirement. The committee’s recommendation is to have this course replace the current one-semester Economics requirement, a significant change to the academic pathway for all students starting with the class of 2031.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND INPUT: This is a major curriculum trade-off that parents should weigh in on. Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item I.1.d, parents must have a voice in the decision to eliminate Economics as a graduation requirement. Please schedule public input sessions before this change is approved.’
💰 Impact: Loss of Economics Course
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Student Teachers Can Now Video Record Your Child’s Classroom
A new agreement with CSU East Bay (Item K.4.d) allows student teachers to video record classroom instruction for their university assessments (edTPA/CalTPA). While the district claims no student names will be used, this raises significant privacy concerns and questions about parental consent for having their children recorded by temporary student teachers.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND AN OPT-OUT: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull Item K.4.d from the Consent Agenda. Parents must have the right to opt their children out of being video recorded by student teachers. What is the specific, written opt-out process?’
💰 Impact: Student Privacy
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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District Approves $85k for Unvetted Special Ed Software
Hidden in the Purchase Order list (Item K.2.b, Attachment 23) is an $85,792.50 payment to ‘ENOME INC.’ for a special education software license. This is a significant expense for a vendor with no description of services provided, raising questions about what this software does and what student data it accesses.
Recommended Action Plan
VERIFY THIS VENDOR: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull the Purchase Order for ENOME INC. (Item K.2.b) from the Consent Agenda. The public deserves to know what this $85,792.50 software does and what student data it handles before it is approved.’
💰 Impact: $85,792.50
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Public Comment Time Limited to 60 Minutes Total
The agenda under Item E.1 states the Board will limit the total time for all public comment to just 60 minutes. This rule can be used to shut down parent feedback on controversial topics if many people sign up to speak, effectively silencing the community’s voice.
Recommended Action Plan
DEFEND YOUR VOICE: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘The 60-minute total limit on public comment in Item E.1 is unacceptable. The Board works for the public, and you must be willing to listen to all parents who take the time to show up. Please remove this arbitrary limit.’
💰 Impact: Silencing Parents’ Voices
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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New Policy on ‘Civil Rights’ Could Protect Teacher Activism
Under consent item K.4.c, the board is approving a new policy on employee ‘Civil and Legal Rights’ (BP 4119.1). While it includes whistleblower protections, it also states the district will not inquire into an employee’s personal beliefs or affiliations, which could be used to shield activist teachers from accountability for classroom conduct.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK FOR CLARITY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item K.4.c, please clarify how the new Civil and Legal Rights policy will be balanced with the district’s responsibility to ensure teachers do not bring personal political activism into the classroom.’
💰 Impact: Shielding Teacher Activism
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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More Screen Time Creeping in Through Purchase Orders
The Purchase Order list (Item K.2.b) contains multiple payments for student-facing software, including Renaissance Learning, Edpuzzle, Generation Genius, and more. While individually small, these contracts add up to more screen-based learning replacing direct instruction, without any public discussion or evidence of effectiveness.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND AN AUDIT: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘The purchase orders in Item K.2.b are full of EdTech contracts. I request a full audit of all student-facing software, the total daily screen time it represents, and the evidence for its academic value before any more are approved.’
💰 Impact: Increased Screen Time
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Win (LEVEL 6) |
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WIN: District Expands College Pathway for Students
Item I.1.b proposes a new Transfer Academy at Crescenta Valley High School, creating a structured path for students to earn transferable college credit while in high school. This program is specifically designed to support students who may not be on the traditional A-G track, expanding academic opportunities and post-secondary readiness.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THE WIN: Show up or email the Board (contact info on district website) to thank them for supporting Item I.1.b. ‘We applaud the creation of the CVHS Transfer Academy. This is a fantastic way to provide more students with valuable academic opportunities and a pathway to success after graduation.’
✅ Why It Matters: Expanded Opportunity
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| Win (LEVEL 5) |
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WIN: District Formalizes Parent Advisory Committee
Item J.1.a is an action to formally establish the LCAP Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee (PAC). This provides an official forum for parents to give input on the district’s accountability and spending plans, strengthening parental oversight and voice in district governance.
How to Lock It In
AMPLIFY THIS WIN: Email the Board (contact info on district website) to thank them for approving Item J.1.a. ‘Thank you for formally establishing the LCAP Parent Advisory Committee. This is a crucial step for ensuring parents have a meaningful seat at the table in our district.’
✅ Why It Matters: Increased Parent Voice
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