LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines gave district educators a vote of confidence Thursday as he recommended they operate most of the campuses in this second round of the Public School Choice plan.

The reform effort allows charter operators, nonprofit groups and Los Angeles Unified teachers and principals to compete for the opportunity to run new and underperforming district campuses.

Cortines recommended that teacher-led groups operate 21 small schools, with charters taking over six campuses. He did not issue a recommendation for John Muir Middle School in South Los Angeles, saying its programs need to be dismantled and rebuilt.