Bills on school discipline clear first hurdle in state Legislature | 89.3 KPCC

Bills on school discipline clear first hurdle in state Legislature | 89.3 KPCC:

Bills on school discipline clear first hurdle in state Legislature

Pass / Fail - 6 hours ago

Three bills in the California Legislature that aim to address problems with school suspension rates and discipline cleared an initial hurdle and passed out of committee today. These include AB 2242, which seeks to reduce out-of-school suspensions for students under the category of "willful defiance," an often very subjective classification that includes behavior such as failing to bring materials to class, not paying attention or talking back. The bill would limit the use of such suspensions and instead have students sent to an in-school supervised suspension classroom. "We’re no... more »

LA Unified suspensions for 'defiance' are down

Pass / Fail - 6 hours ago

L.A. Unified has had roughly 1,400 fewer suspensions for defiance through February of this year compared to last year, said Superintendent John Deasy today. The district has worked to decrease its suspension rate, especially for defiance (a category that can include talking back or not following a teacher's directions), by encouraging school officials to deal with students on campus rather than sending them home. Since last year the district has tracked suspension rates on a monthly basis at the school level and officials plan to start doing so at the classroom and teacher level ... more »

LAUSD board president target of recall campaign

Pass / Fail - 6 hours ago

A few dozen people gathered outside L.A. Unified's downtown headquarters today to announce a campaign to recall school board president Monica Garcia. Holding signs that read "Pink Slip for Monica Garcia" and "Stop and Recall Monica Garcia," they spoke out against budget cuts that have slashed adult and early education. They also protested the issuing of more than 11,700 preliminary pink slips to district employees. "This board president has consistently ignored voices of the community," said Robert Skeels, a public education advocate. "We don't accept these answers...we believe th... more »

Task force recommends full review of UC Davis Police Department

Pass / Fail - 6 hours ago

The task force report on the use of pepper spraying of peaceful UC Davis protesters in November included recommendations for a full review of the campus police department, including an assessment by an outside agency of its command structure, personnel numbers and use-of-force protocol. The report also recommends a review of the police chief's job description, a review to bring the department's practices up to date, and the creation of annual competency trainings and annual performance evaluations. The 32-page task force report was released online at noon today but the task force ... more »

Arraignment pushed back to June for UCLA professor in fiery death of lab assistant

Pass / Fail - 6 hours ago

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has once again pushed back an arraignment hearing for a UCLA chemistry professor who faces felony charges in a deadly school lab fire. Flanked by his legal team, Patrick Harran briefly appeared in court where, for a third and final time, the judge delayed Harran’s arraignment until early June. Defense attorneys have requested time to continue plea negotiations. He faces felony criminal charges in an accident three years ago that fatally burned a 23-year-old research assistant, Sheharbano Sangji. She was not wearing a protective lab coat when a c... more »

Details: Task force releases report on UC Davis pepper spraying incident

Pass / Fail - 6 hours ago

The task force charged with investigating the November pepper spraying of peaceful protesters at UC Davis publicly released their report today finding the incident "should and could have been prevented" and that a breakdown in communication and leadership, plus a lack of proper protocols. The 32-page report includes a hefty appendix with the 131-page independent inquiry by New York-based investigative firm Kroll, which details the events leading up to the pepper spraying incident on Nov. 18, and also includes interviews with campus officials and police officers, whose names have b... more »