LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):
Breaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain open
Breaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain open A California Superior Court judge today ruled that two Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) charters can remain open, blocking LA Unified’s effort to have them shut down over financial concerns. The decision by Judge Luis Lavin enables Magnolia Science Academy 6 in Palms and Magnolia Science Academy 7 in Van Nuys to welcome students back next m
Data now available on teacher pay, but not for LA Unified
Data now available on teacher pay, but not for LA Unified It just became easier to find out how much your teacher is paid — unless, that is, the teachers works in LA Unified. A California non-profit, the California Policy Center, made available this week pay and pension data of individual employees from 653 school districts around the state in a searchable database. That adds to the information it
A bigger team for teachers union but no agreement in sight
A bigger team for teachers union but no agreement in sight The latest LA Unified-UTLA bargaining session featured a change in tactics by the union but nothing close to an agreement. The union brought all seven officers into negotiations yesterday, signaling a shift to what it calls “big bargaining.” And it’s likely to get bigger: The union said in a statement future bargaining sessions would inclu
Morning Read: English learner lawsuit gains support from Feds
Morning Read: English learner lawsuit gains support from Feds Feds back English learner lawsuit against state The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has found an ally in the U.S. Department of Justice for its lawsuit charging that the state abdicated its obligation to ensure all students classified as English learners get extra instructional services to become fluent in English.
JUL 24
JUST IN: Court adjourns with no decision on Magnolia charters
JUST IN: Court adjourns with no decision on Magnolia charters A superior court judge adjourned for the day without ruling whether he would keep open two Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) charters for the start of the school year next month. After hearing arguments from lawyers for LA Unified, which wants to shut them down, and from Magnolia lawyers, arguing to keep them open, Judge Luis Lavin said he
LA Unified, teachers meeting today to discuss a contract
LA Unified, teachers meeting today to discuss a contract Negotiators for LA Unified and its teachers union, UTLA, had planned to meet today to discuss a new contract for teachers, based on the district’s latest offer. The district described it as an improvement over the initial offer, but days before the offer was officially made, the union dismissed it as a “non-starter” and continued the threat
Magnolia Charter troubles in LAUSD highlight larger concerns
Magnolia Charter troubles in LAUSD highlight larger concerns Troubles encountered by the charter school operator, Magnolia Public Schools (MPS), at two of its eight charters in the LA Unified School District highlight a murky governance issue that legislatures in California and elsewhere have been slow to address. Should a parent company operate its charter school network as a single entity, as MP
Report: Poor induction programs lead to high teacher turnover
Report: Poor induction programs lead to high teacher turnover Via S&I Cabinet Report | By Alisha Kirby Much of the disproportionately high rate of teacher turnover in hard-to-staff schools serving high-poverty students can be attributed to a lack of quality induction programs for beginning teachers, according to guidance released earlier this month. Roughly half a million U.S. teachers eithe
Morning Read: Judges rule against LAT on teacher IDs
Morning Read: Judges rule against LAT on teacher IDs Judges rule against letting public see LAUSD teachers’ performance The public has no right to know the names of Los Angeles Unified School District teachers in connection with their job performance ratings, according to a court ruling issued Wednesday. LA Times Gov. Jerry Brown resists unzipping school construction wallet Commentary: There’s a
JUL 23
Magnolia going into court to keep 2 of its charters open
Magnolia going into court to keep 2 of its charters open Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) is going into a Los Angeles superior court tomorrow to ask a judge to keep open two of its schools that LA Unified wants to close. The district denied the renewal applications for Magnolia Science Academies 6 and 7 after an independent audit determined that MPS is insolvent. The audit uncovered a number of fisc
CWC charter finds yet another new home, at least for a year
CWC charter finds yet another new home, at least for a year St Joan of Arc school, CWC’s new home Citizens of the World Mar Vista has a new new home. The charter school, which was forced to move from its co-location site at Stoner Elementary School after a tumultuous year, has turned down LA Unified’s most recent offer for classroom space and is moving onto a Catholic school campus. CWC finalize
Freedom Schools strengthen, empower LA Unified students
Freedom Schools strengthen, empower LA Unified students 17-year-old Dorsey High School senior Christian Moton, second from right, participates in a group discussion about a book on Nelson Mandela Every morning for the last six weeks, Dorsey High School senior Christian Moton has been taking part in a highly charged and energetic morning ceremony when he sings, chants and cheers. “They host Harambe
Morning Read: Charter school in south LA damaged by fire
Morning Read: Charter school in south LA damaged by fire L.A. charter school gutted by fast-moving blaze A charter school organization is scrambling to find an alternative location after a fire swept through the campus Tuesday. Animo South Los Angeles Charter High School served 600 students, but school was not in session and officials believe the structure was empty. LA Times Gloria Romero: Too p
JUL 22
2 LA Unified teachers selected as finalists for national award
2 LA Unified teachers selected as finalists for national award Two LA Unified elementary school teachers are among six California educators selected as finalists for the 2014 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching or (PAEMST). The two were selected in the science category: Kristen Johnson, a fifth grade teacher at low-performing 93rd Street Elementary School, where
LA Times endorses George McKenna for school board
LA Times endorses George McKenna for school board Via LA Times Editorial Board Two candidates with different styles and viewpoints are vying to join the Los Angeles Unified school board, replacing longtime board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died in December. Both of the candidates also hold different beliefs than did LaMotte, who was a fiery opponent of most school reform. This is an
Deasy joins President Obama in ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ update
Deasy joins President Obama in ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ update LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy joined other education officials at The White House yesterday as President Obama announced new partnerships to help young men of color gain greater access to programs offering support from pre-K through high school. The program, which includes private companies, nonprofits and the NBA as participants,
CA low among states in children’s well-being, says new report
CA low among states in children’s well-being, says new report California ranks 40th among the 50 states in children’s overall well-being, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 25th edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today in partnership with Children Now, a children’s health and education research, policy, and advocacy organization based in Oakland. The Data Book ranks each state
Teachers union calls district contract offer ‘a non-starter’
Teachers union calls district contract offer ‘a non-starter’ UTLA, the teachers union, has called LA Unified’s latest contract offer “a non-starter,” signaling a difficult resumption of bargaining when talks resume on Thursday. “Just days before a scheduled bargaining session, LAUSD today presented UTLA with a revised contract offer that falls short of what is needed to achieve the schools that LA
Morning Read: New political action committee joins board race
Morning Read: New political action committee joins board race New political action committee forms in L.A. school board race A new political action committee has formed to influence the outcome of Los Angeles school board races, filling a gap created when a group of civic leaders, which includes former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, decided to sit out next month’s key upcoming election. LA Times Whi
JUL 21
JUST IN: LAUSD adding two years to contract offer to teachers union
JUST IN: LAUSD adding two years to contract offer to teachers union From left: Vivian Ekchian, Betty Forrester In a new contract proposal to the teachers union, UTLA, LA Unified is offering a three-year package with annual raises of at least 2 percent and a plan to re-hire 3,000 teachers who have been laid off in recent years. The latest offer adds two years to the length of the contract initially
Opinion: Teachers unions oppose change — why?
Opinion: Teachers unions oppose change — why? Via Wall Street Journal | By Antonio Villaraigosa President John F. Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” This message has apparently been lost on some people in our teachers unions who used their recent national conventions in Los Angeles and Denver to argue against de
Johnson campaign goes negative, citing the ‘myth’ of McKenna
Johnson campaign goes negative, citing the ‘myth’ of McKenna Alex Johnson has gone negative. In two recent mailings (here and here) to “most likely” voters in LA Unified’s District 1, the Johnson campaign is questioning George McKenna‘s accomplishments as the two candidates seek the open school board seat. “We always knew that at some point, our campaign has to address to the myth of George McKenn
LA Unified offers shots to stall rise of whooping cough
LA Unified offers shots to stall rise of whooping cough In response to a surge in cases of whooping cough, LA Unified is helping parents meet new state immunization requirements by offering immunization shots, beginning July 28. The T-dap shots protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough. Eligible students are Medi-Cal recipients, Native Americans and those without insuran
Morning Read: POTUS gains support for minority education
Morning Read: POTUS gains support for minority education Obama to report widening of initiative for black and Latino boys President Obama will announce on Monday that 60 of the nation’s largest school districts are joining his initiative to improve the educational futures of young African-American and Hispanic boys, beginning in preschool and extending through high school graduation. NY Times Bey