Thursday, May 10, 2007
For Immediate Release
UCLA School Management Program
Awarded $100,000 for Los Angeles Schools

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA School Management Program (SMP), a team of school site and district educators dedicated since 1992 to partnering with learning communities to ensure high achievement for every student, has received a $100,000 grant from State Farm Insurance to fund a new “Like A Good Neighbor” initiative. Over the next year, the grant is intended to support the UCLA School Management Program partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District’s Local District 4 in creating a professional learning community at John Liechty Middle School and one of its main feeder elementary schools, Esperanza Elementary School. John Liechty Middle School will open in the Pico Union area of Los Angeles in September 2007. The initiative will focus on professional development and community building programs to increase student achievement in the two high poverty predominantly English learner populated locations.

“The initiative will apply knowledge, experience, and program support to enhance students’ learning in areas where we need it the most,” said Local District 4 Superintendent, Richard Alonzo.

The grant from State Farm Insurance will provide an opportunity to customize specific continuous improvement plans for each school. “We are proud to invest in the education of the children who will be the leaders of the future,” said Robert Villegas, Public Affairs Specialist for State Farm Insurance.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together a company that cares about the community, schools that desire support in achieving their goals, and a center at UCLA with a track record of real success in supporting increased student achievement,” said Dr. Dan Chernow, Executive Director of UCLA SMP. SMP is an initiative of the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies that collaborates with public school teachers and school administrators to improve education. SMP’s mission is to ensure students achieve the highest quality education. Working with educators, administrators and community members, SMP creates well-managed schools, enhances teacher effectiveness and improves student achievement through professional development and community building.

State Farm insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 76,000 employees serve nearly 73 million auto, fire, life, and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm also offers financial services and products. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked 31st on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com or in Canada, statefarm.ca.

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