[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H4369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PARTNERSHIP FOR L.A. SCHOOLS

  (Mr. Hoyer of Maryland was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important and critical 
responsibilities any nation has, any community has, any State has, is 
the education of its children.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the extraordinary work of an 
organization from Los Angeles that has lessons for every community in 
America.
  Nearly two decades ago, then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa partnered 
with my good friends, philanthropists Melanie and Richard Lundquist, to 
launch the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. Dr. Lundquist is with 
us today.
  Their nonprofit is committed to strengthening public schools in some 
of L.A.'s most underserved and challenging communities.
  Today, under the leadership of Guadalupe Guerrero, the Partnership 
for L.A. Schools manages 20 K-12 public schools, serving more than 
13,500 students in Boyle Heights, Watts, and South L.A.
  These are not charter schools. They are neighborhood public schools 
working in close collaboration with the Los Angeles Unified School 
District.
  The results speak for themselves.
  When the partnership began, the high school graduation rate in its 
schools was just 36 percent. Today, that rate has risen to 92 percent.
  The progress does not stop there. This year's partnership schools 
reached their highest math performance ever and matched their strongest 
literary results.

                              {time}  1020

  Following the pandemic, students demonstrated 3 consecutive years of 
growth in math and 2 consecutive years of growth in reading.
  Every partnership elementary school advanced in literacy, and nearly 
all of them advanced in math, as well. Black and emergent bilingual 
students, those who have historically faced the steepest barriers, made 
some of the strongest gains.
  I had the opportunity to see this outstanding education model at work 
when I toured Santee High School, one of the partnership's campuses. I 
was impressed by the students and their learning progress. I was 
convinced then and am even more certain now that the partnership has 
created a scalable and sustainable model for schools nationally.
  The partnership is not only a success for L.A. but an example for all 
of America. Their work demonstrates that when we invest in teacher 
coaching, leadership development, aligned systems of support, and other 
proven strategies, students make real and, importantly, lasting gains.
  Many in our country have taken aim at public schools recently. The 
partnership is proof that our public schools can deliver for every 
child so long as we provide them with the right tools and, importantly, 
the resources. The partnership continues to prove that every day.
  I commend the Partnership for L.A. Schools--its educators, students, 
and families--for showing our country a better path forward.
  Dr. Lundquist has become a dear friend and an extraordinary shining 
example for us all. I recognize my friend, Melanie, who is with me here 
today, and the tens of thousands of children, teachers, and 
participants who have made this such a success.
  Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of children have seen brighter futures 
because of Melanie and her husband Richard's philanthropy, vision, and 
dedication to improving America's public schools.
  My friend, the late congressman Bill Natcher, used to say: ``As long 
as you take care of the health of your people and the education of your 
children, you'll continue to live in the strongest and best nation on 
earth.''
  Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what Melanie Lundquist and the 
partnership for LA Schools are doing.
  And for that, they have my thanks and the gratitude of the American 
people.

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