L.A. Unified gives insiders first chance at new charter campuses
District alters policy to allow teachers and administrators priority in submitting plans, instead of charter groups and other outsiders. Any group can still compete for existing, low-performing schools.
 Board member Steve Zimmer, above at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in June, questioned why charter organizations have shown little interest in bidding for existing campuses and instead focused on new schools. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times / June 11, 2011) |
The Los Angeles Board of Education made a major change in its controversial, 2-year-old policy allowing charter groups and other outsiders to take over new campuses. The board unanimously agreed Tuesday to give teachers and administrators first chance at those schools.
If inside groups' plans are unacceptable, then charter operators, who mostly run schools that are nonunion, and others can apply.
The rules remain the same, however, for existing, low-performing schools; any group can compete for those campuses.
The district was preparing to accept new proposals for 15 new campuses by mid-October; that deadline has been changed to Nov. 18. Since the policy began, 11 charter schools won bids to run new district campuses and one existing campus is being
If inside groups' plans are unacceptable, then charter operators, who mostly run schools that are nonunion, and others can apply.
The rules remain the same, however, for existing, low-performing schools; any group can compete for those campuses.
The district was preparing to accept new proposals for 15 new campuses by mid-October; that deadline has been changed to Nov. 18. Since the policy began, 11 charter schools won bids to run new district campuses and one existing campus is being
