A coalition of civil rights groups called Monday on Los Angeles Unified and the teachers union to decide quickly on a slate of proposed reforms they say is needed at the nation's second-largest school district.

The coalition, which calls itself "Don't Hold Us Back," had set a Nov. 1 deadline for the district and United Teachers Los Angeles to agree on a top-down set of policy changes, such as giving principals hiring authority, improving teacher evaluations and enhancing parental involvement.

The group had wanted a proposal to be submitted Tuesday for school board consideration. But the board has canceled its regular meeting plans only to meet in closed session.

Still, members of Don't Hold Us Back plan to rally at LAUSD's headquarters at 9 a.m. Tuesday to encourage the parties to act.

"I think we are expecting that the message and our demands will be heard," said Maria Brenes, executive