Mayor Releases UCLA Study Showing LA's Best Helps Improve Test Scores

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the results of an
independent study on the effectiveness of LA's BEST, the largest non-profit
elementary after school program in California.

"This UCLA study confirms that a student who attends LA's BEST in elementary
school is more likely to go on to middle school to get higher grades, have
stronger math skills, and be better prepared for standardized tests," Mayor
Villaraigosa said. "I'm excited that we are expanding the program to seven
new sites so that more students across our City have quality educational
options during and after school."

This week, Wendy Greuel, the city controller who is running for mayor, told the Studio City Neighborhood Council how she helped create the program when she worked in the Tom Bradley administration.

Since the hours between 3 pm and 6 pm are often considered the riskiest time
for school-age children, LA's BEST seeks to provide a safe haven for at-risk
students. The program expanded to 7 new locations this year and now serves
over 28,000 kids at 186 elementary school sites in neighborhoods most vulnerable to gangs, drugs, crime and at schools with the lowest student test scores.

"When educators partner with the community in after school programs, kids
flourish both inside and outside the classroom," said Randi Weingarten,
President of the American Federation of Teachers.  "I have seen first-hand
how  these programs support and build on the work of our teachers. After
school  programs of the quality of LA's BEST are an important piece of
public school reform."

The latest independent evaluation of LA's BEST by the Center for Research on
Evaluation, Student Standards and Testing at UCLA (CRESST) analyzed data
from student GPAs, standardized test scores, and course taking patterns in
middle school, and included a comparison between students who had
participated in LA's BEST in elementary school, and those who had not.

The UCLA CRESST study concluded:
.      LA's BEST students demonstrated gains in math, language
arts, science and history in middle school.
.      The longer students attended LA's BEST, the better their results
in middle school.
.      LA's BEST participants demonstrated higher California
Standardized Test (CST) scores in general math and algebra.
.      LA's BEST participants are more likely to take algebra in 8th grade

LA's BEST also expanded to seven new sites this year at Alta California
(Panorama City), Andres and Maria Cardenas (Van Nuys), Dolores Huerta
Elementary (South Los Angeles), Estrella Elementary (South Los Angeles),
Julie Korenstein (North Hollywood), Owen Knox
(Watts), and Stanley Mosk (Winnetka).

Since the Mayor took office, he has supported the expansion of the LA's BEST
program by 57 sites.  As Speaker of the Assembly, he also helped LA's BEST
secure the first 100 million dollars for the program in 1998.