LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):
Federal free lunches a lens into proverty that’s blurring
Federal free lunches a lens into proverty that’s blurring When it comes to free school meals, it’s increasingly clear that students aren’t always what they eat. The federal free- and reduced-price meals program, launched decades ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to combat child hunger through schools, has become a ubiquitous proxy for poverty in federal and state education and health progr
Vergara appeal (or not) divisive issue for Torkalson and Tuck
Vergara appeal (or not) divisive issue for Torkalson and Tuck Tom Torlakson (left), Marshall Tuck (right) The lower court’s final ruling in the Vergara case has pushed it into the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction as the latest proxy fight between supporters of reform and protectors of the status quo. Tom Torlakson, the incumbent, is urging the state to appeal. Marshall Tuck, the
Romero pressing for LAUSD hearing on ‘trigger’ waiver
Romero pressing for LAUSD hearing on ‘trigger’ waiver Gloria Romero, former CA State Senator Gloria Romero, the former state senator who authored the California Parent Trigger law is asking LA Unified board president Richard Vladovic to schedule a public discussion on the district’s legal opinion that the law does not apply this year. District lawyers say the Federal waiver granted LA Unified and
Morning Read: Aquino defends his role in LAUSD iPad contract
Morning Read: Aquino defends his role in LAUSD iPad contract Ex-LAUSD official denies steering contract to former employer The former Los Angeles schools official under scrutiny for his role in the district’s $1.3-billion iPad program defended himself Thursday, saying that he did not improperly steer the contract to a company that once employed him. LA Times LA schools iPads: Bid committee got fr
AUG 28
JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review
JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review The judge in Vergara vs. California today released his final review of the case, affirming his preliminary decision in June, that five state statures governing teacher employment rules violate the California constitution by denying students access to a quality public education. In his final ruling, filed yesterday, Judge Rolf Treu, said,
LA Unified attempting to restore early childhood programs
LA Unified attempting to restore early childhood programs LA Unified is rebuilding early-childhood education programs that were nearly decimated throughout the bleak recession years, investing an additional $30 million through 2016-2017. In a 6-1 vote Tuesday, the school board agreed to create a pathway for returning funding for the district’s three to four-year-olds, to levels not seen since 2007
McKenna has filed to seek LAUSD board seat again in 2015
McKenna has filed to seek LAUSD board seat again in 2015 George McKenna, Board Member representing District 1 While George McKenna remained relatively quiet at his first board meeting this week, he has spoken loudly one one issue: He intends to run again for the District 1 seat next year. Records show that he filed a Declaration of Intent To Solicit And Receive Contributions with the City Ethics C
Segregation remains high among American public schools
Segregation remains high among American public schools Via Metro Trends Blog | by Reed Jordan Fifty million children will start school this week as historic changes are under way in the U.S. public school system. As of 2011, 48 percent of all public school students were “poor” and this year, students of color will account for the majority of public school students for the first time in US history.
LAUSD moving slowly on older school earthquake retrofits
LAUSD moving slowly on older school earthquake retrofits With last weekend’s 6.0 earthquake in Napa County as the latest reminder of the need for earthquake preparedness, LA Unified is progressing slowly in retrofitting school buildings deemed vulnerable. In accordance with a state law known as AB 300, the district in 2006 conducted a seismic evaluation and identified 667 buildings constructed bef
Morning Read: LAUSD audit finds computers missing in action
Morning Read: LAUSD audit finds computers missing in action LA schools’ audit finds computers stolen, missing, unaccounted for An audit of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s computer inventory reveals 230 devices worth nearly $200,000 have been stolen or are missing – and school officials can’t account for another 3,105 laptops, desktops and iPads. KPCC Emails prompt LA schools’ inspector
AUG 27
LA Unified board approves hiring of Aquino replacement
LA Unified board approves hiring of Aquino replacement Ruth Perez Among the non-iPad and MiSiS issues before the LA Unified board yesterday was approving the hiring of Ruth Pérez as the deputy superintendent of instruction. The vote was 6-0, with Monica Ratliff abstaining. Most recently superintendent of Norwalk-La Mirada school district, Perez has also served as a teacher and administrator in Fl
The Ratliff report: one view of the iPad program gone awry
The Ratliff report: one view of the iPad program gone awry Monica Ratliff, District 6 Board Member It’s long. It’s detailed. And it’s dry. But here it is, LA Unified board member Monica Ratliff’s report to her colleagues on the work of The Common Core Technology Project Ad Hoc Committee. She was chair. By now, most people know the iPad program didn’t go swimmingly, leading Superintendent John Deas
LAUSD charters extending lead in academic performance
LAUSD charters extending lead in academic performance Source: California Charter Schools Association A new report by the California Charter Schools Association shows a growing gap between the overall school performance of traditional schools and charter schools in LA Unified. The report — Portrait of the Movement — says LA Unified charter schools, on average, produce stronger test results than tra
Morning Read: Calls grow to investigate LAUSD iPad project
Morning Read: Calls grow to investigate LAUSD iPad project Calls grow for wider inquiry into L.A. Unified iPad project A day after Los Angeles Unified abruptly suspended the contract for its controversial iPad project, there were growing calls for a more thorough investigation into whether the bidding process for the $1-billion program was improperly handled. LA Times Can Supt. Deasy survive LAUS
For LAUSD school board a new year, but old problems
For LAUSD school board a new year, but old problems Alex Caputo-Pearl, President of UTLA It might be the new school year, but it was a series of old problems awaiting the LA Unified school board yesterday as it met long into the night with a full complement of seven members for the first time in eight months. After the swearing in of newly-elected District 1 member George McKenna, a closed session
AUG 26
LIVESTREAM: First LAUSD school board meeting of the year
LIVESTREAM: First LAUSD school board meeting of the year Click this picture to watch the livestream of the meeting The LA Unified Board meeting reconvenes today with a full compliment of members. The board now includes a representative from District 1, George McKenna, who was sworn in earlier in the day. He is replacing the late Marguerite LaMotte. Among the items for discussion are a review of th
McKenna sworn in as LAUSD board’s seventh member
McKenna sworn in as LAUSD board’s seventh member George McKenna, third from left, officially became the seventh member of the LA Unified school board today, representing District 1, after he was sworn in by Rev. Jesse Jackson, left. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, second from left, and Danny Bakewell, publisher of the LA Sentinel, far right, also participated in the brief ceremony, which preceded the
LIVESTREAM: Swearing in of George McKenna to district 1 seat
LIVESTREAM: Swearing in of George McKenna to district 1 seat Watch the swearing in of George Mckenna to the District 1 seat of the LA Unified Board of Education. Watch here. LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)
Morning Read: iPads coverage here, there, everywhere
Morning Read: iPads coverage here, there, everywhere L.A. Unified halts contract for iPads L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy suspended future use of a contract with Apple on Monday that was to provide iPads to all students in the nation’s second-largest school system amid mounting scrutiny of the $1-billion-plus effort. LA Times Deasy abruptly cancels controversial iPad contract Faced with mounting q
Deasy cancels Apple contract, starts new bidding process
Deasy cancels Apple contract, starts new bidding process LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy told members of the school board yesterday that he is canceling the district’s contract with Apple, Inc., effectively ending his grand plan to put an iPad in the hands of every district student. Following the disclosure of emails that suggest he and aides had tailored the bid process to favor Apple and th
AUG 25
Breaking News: Deasy says he’s cancelling iPad program
Breaking News: Deasy says he’s cancelling iPad program Via Los Angeles Times | By Howard Blume Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy canceled the $1-billion program to provide all students with an iPad after public records showed he and his top deputy had developed a relationship with the vendors two years prior to the bidding. Recently released emails showed that Deasy and his then-deputy, Jaime A
Computer problems spur a student walkout at Jefferson High
Computer problems spur a student walkout at Jefferson High Student at Jefferson High School, staging a walk out Continuing problems with LAUSD’s new MiSiS computer system prompted nearly 250 Jefferson High School students to walk out of class today in protest over scheduling conflicts. The students, mostly juniors and seniors, said their schedules were wrong and they have not been assigned the ho
iPad report shared only with LAUSD officials in secrecy
iPad report shared only with LAUSD officials in secrecy A draft report on LA Unified’s handling of the controversial iPad contract that was leaked to media outlets last week was made available to board members and district administrators only if they agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement, barring them from sharing the report with anyone. While some signed, others, including Superintendent John
LAUSD officials and Apple had relations before iPad contract
LAUSD officials and Apple had relations before iPad contract Via LA Times | by Howard Blume Senior Los Angeles school district officials, including Supt. John Deasy, had a close working relationship with Apple and Pearson executives before these companies won the key contract for a $1-billion effort to provide computers to every student in the nation’s second-largest school system, records release
Morning Read: Mistakes were made in LAUSD iPad plan
Morning Read: Mistakes were made in LAUSD iPad plan ‘There were mistakes’ in $1 billion iPad plan, says school board member Los Angeles Unified’s aborted plans to buy iPads and educational software from one of the nation’s leading textbook suppliers were the focus of a draft report created by a school board committee, according to news wire reports. LA Daily News No easy answers on “career readin