• SMMUSD welcomes you to the 2021-2022 School Year!

    Ben Drati, SMMUSD Superintendent We are excited to welcome new and returning students back to our excellent public schools, following a challenging year due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are looking forward to a fresh start, in person, while continuing to follow health agency guidelines to ensure the continued health and safety of our students and staff.

    We do so with the support of parents and communities who care deeply about the success of our students and our schools. Our hardworking educators deserve recognition for leading our students to success last year under the most difficult circumstances of our lifetime. Our classified staff was there to support all of us every step of the way, and for that I am grateful.

    Our mission statement is: Extraordinary achievement for all students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap. As a district, we remain committed to this mission and, in support, have affirmed our commitment to Excellence through Equity and social justice through our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). We continue to be focused on three LCAP goals: All graduates are ready for college and careers; English Learners will become proficient in English while engaging in a rigorous, standards-aligned core curriculum; and all students engage in schools that are safe, well-maintained and family friendly.

    We are focused on the whole student and recognize that students must be healthy inside and out in order to reach their full potential academically. Our efforts include teaching all students to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to function effectively in a pluralistic democratic society and to interact, negotiate, and communicate with people from diverse groups to create a civic and moral community that works for the common good.

    Our work with the Santa Monica Education Foundation (Ed Foundation) and a group supporting Malibu schools is essential in achieving our goals. These partnerships ensure that we have visual and performing arts programs in every elementary school (TK-5th grade); instructional assistants in all elementary schools to support student learning; and discretionary grants in all schools (TK-12 grade) to allow schools to bolster their programs based on their own community needs and interests. We are so grateful for the local support from parents, staff, community members and businesses that makes our district even better. For more information or to donate, please visit your school website and click on the respective organization button for each community.

    Please visit the district website (www.smmusd.org) and school websites for important information and what’s happening throughout the year. Please “like” us on Facebook, including our Visual and Performing Arts Facebook page, Malibu Schools Pathway page and Special Education page, “follow us” on Twitter @smmusd and @MalibuPathway and download our mobile app from your app store listed as Santa Monica-Malibu USD.

    We are working hard to ensure student success!

    We are looking forward to a great school year!

    Sincerely,

    Dr. Ben Drati
    Superintendent