Issues
Implementing Universal Preschool and High-Quality Early Education
As Board President, Kelly brought together a coalition of parents, organizations, educators and leaders to commit the District to providing universal preschool by the 2024-25 school year. Under a resolution authored by Kelly and approved by the LA Unified Board of Education, all three and four year olds will have access to a high-quality preschool program run by LAUSD or by partner community and family providers. As the District works toward implementation, programs will be expanded to first serve the communities and students most in need. Kelly will continue working to make universal preschool a reality for families in Los Angeles Unified and ensure high-quality learning continues beyond early education.
Increasing College and Career Readiness
While LAUSD has celebrated increasing high school graduation rates, Kelly wants to go farther and ensure that every student graduating from Los Angeles Unified is prepared to succeed in college and beyond. She is leading the Board to address the obstacles that low-income students of color continue to face in graduating college-eligible and prepared. Kelly spearheaded the District’s SAT For All Initiative, which led to a 40 percent increase in the number of students taking the SAT and a dramatic expansion in those who were eligible to go to four-year universities. Kelly will build on these achievements to ensure that every child who graduates from LAUSD is able to achieve their dreams in college and careers.
Incorporating Equity into All LA Unified Policies
Kelly has championed the needs of students of color, English learners, students experiencing homelessness, and foster youth, while also securing millions in additional funding for the highest need schools in the San Fernando Valley. She tripled the number of dual language programs and greatly increased magnet programs, providing opportunities that didn’t exist for many underserved communities. She has led an effort to desegregate LAUSD schools and programs, promoting greater diversity and equitable access to the District’s most in-demand offerings. Kelly has also advocated for a more equitable distribution of funding to support the highest-needs students and schools and will continue fighting for additional resources and policies that meet the holistic needs of all students.