Empathetic Citizens Are Built by Staff and Teachers
PUBLISHED BY LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT ON MARCH 6, 2026
I want to thank the teachers, staff, and Dr. Glass for continuing to create a successful environment for our students, preschool through 12th grade. The LCAP midyear progress update is a useful reminder that real improvement is not flashy - it is steady and built by educators who put kids first every day.
At the February 12 board meeting, Dr. Glass paused to underscore how unusual it is to see this kind of movement at the halfway point of the year. Looking at the i-Ready shifts from the beginning of the year to midyear, he said, “That’s not good. It’s incredible.” He also noted that many districts would be thrilled to have this kind of progress at year-end and reminded the community that we still have half a year left, driven by the work happening in schools.
You can see that work in the data. For English learners, Tier 1 reading increased from 10% to 38% from fall to winter, and Tier 1 math increased from 16% to 31%. Across K through 8, fewer students are in the most intensive support category in both reading and math compared with the start of the year, which is what you want to see as interventions take hold.
At Laguna Beach High School, the progress shows up in access and opportunity. The district reported that 41% of students are enrolled in one or more CTE courses this year, and 21% have earned college credit at some point during high school.
The district’s student support system reported over 7,000 counseling contacts through January, including academic planning, crisis response, and social-emotional support. That is the behind-the-scenes work that helps students stay on track and get help when they need it.
This progress is happening because staff and teachers are putting our kids first every day. They are helping shape empathetic citizens who will carry what they learn here into our community and beyond. I appreciate Dr. Glass for publicly naming the progress, and I hope we keep backing the people who are making it real in our classrooms and on our campuses.
Erika Hennon Rule
LBUSD Parent, Aliso Viejo
