October 28, 2013 Hon. Dr. Richard Vladovic, President, District 7 Hon. Marguerite LaMotte, District 1 Hon.

Mnica Garcia, District 2 Hon. Tamar Galatzan, District 3 Hon. Steve Zimmer, District 4 Hon. Bennett Kayser, District 5 Hon. Monica Ratliff, District 6 Dear Board Members: More than ever, the students of the Los Angeles Unified School District need courageous leadership. Only 16% of LAUSD students pass the classes needed to apply to a 4-year college. For a District of 650,000 students, that means the overwhelming majority of our citys youth will not be ready for the future. As the Superintendent of LAUSD, John Deasy inspired many because he met this challenge with urgency and fervor. Deasy had a vision, a plan, and the work ethic to make change happen. He made college readiness the singular bar for our students to reach. He created a performance meter to ensure that all parts of LAUSD, including himself, were accountable for student success. He hired the best and the brightest to help implement fundamental changes to how the District provides instruction. Teacher evaluations, the expansion of autonomous schools, the roll out of the Common Core curriculum, a new method to support English language learners, technology for every student...the scale and pace of the change John Deasy initiated for students in 2 years has been breathtaking. While there are legitimate issues to be worked out with the initiatives the Superintendent has launched, one thing is crystal clear, John Deasy is the leadership that the students of LAUSD need. Tomorrow, you will evaluate the Superintendent and make a determination about his future in Los Angeles. You can debate, deliberate and find fault with the Superintendent; which will ensure Deasys exodus in a manner similar to the resignation of his chief instructional officer, Jaime Aquino. Or the board can do what effective boards (elected or otherwise) do: support the leader you have hired; provide him the resources and autonomy to do his job; own the outcomes and goals the District has for its students; and course correct where necessary. Instead of the disruptive revolving door of the LAUSD superintendency, wouldnt it be nice if Tuesdays school board meeting resulted in something else? How about a recognition of the progress made to date? Better yet, how about a long-term commitment to keep strong leadership in place and an affirmation of the student centered agenda we have collectively embarked on.

We, the undersigned, put our faith in you and the Superintendent to keep LAUSD on track.

Sincerely, Steve Barr, Founder and CEO, Future Is Now Schools Frank Baxter, Co-Chairman, The Alliance for College Ready Public Schools Troy Carter, Founder, Chairman, CEO, Atom Factory Maria Casillas, Educator and nonprofit leader Ben Goldhirsh, Co-Founder, CEO, GOOD Davis Guggenheim, Filmmaker Genethia Hudley-Hayes, Fmr. LAUSD school board member, District 1 John Legend, Award-winning singer/songwriter, philanthropist and entrepreneur Katie McGrath, President of the Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Family Foundation Maggie Neilson, CEO & Partner, Global Philanthropy Group Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment Virgil Roberts, Managing Partner, Bobbitt & Roberts Felix Schein, StudentsMatter Wendy Wachtell, President, the Joseph Drown Foundation

CC: Superintendent Dr. John Deasy