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Commentary: A caterpillar curriculum — the importance of environmental education in K-12 urban classrooms
By Joshua Brown At the beginning of every school year, my students ask me what I did over summer vacation. This year, I have an answer that will surely mesmerize them: I cleaned caterpillar poop. Let me elaborate. I was fortunate enough to participate in a weeklong professional development fellowship to the Yanayacu Biological...
By Guest contributor | September 1, 2016
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Dissecting success: Middle school teacher who sets science to rap music is honored
Science lessons set to rap music. Aspirations in envelopes pinned to the ceiling. And a commitment to live alongside students. Tunji Adebayo, who teaches 7th and 8th grade science at Lou Dantzler Preparatory Charter Middle School, was honored Monday night for his innovation and dedication at Teach For America’s “Celebrating Changemakers in Education.” “Tunji’s dedication to...
By LA School Report | April 26, 2016
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How hard times in LA schools sparked a ‘teacherpreneur’ to create BirdBrain Science
It was a devastating time for the young teachers who worked at John H. Liechty Middle School near downtown Los Angeles. It was 2009, and 72 percent of the school’s teachers were handed pink slips, casualties of America’s crumbling economy. Brendan Finch, working there through Teach For America, was among those let go, though he...
By Mark Keierleber | February 26, 2016
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LA Unified gearing up for new statewide science tests in 2019
LA Unified 2nd graders will be taking a California comprehensive science test when they reach 5th grade in 2019, and district science coordinators are already gearing up for it, according to a presentation before the school boad’s Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Equity Committee. But it’s a huge undertaking. District officials leading the effort told the committee that...
By Mike Szymanski | November 3, 2015
Investigation: Nearly 1,000 Native Children Died in Federal Boarding Schools
Podcast: What a Mentorship Mindset Can Do for Student Motivation
Black and Hispanic Voters Say Democrats Aren’t Focused Enough on K-12 Education
Teen Activist Rhea Maniar on the Power of Abortion to Turn Out Young Voters
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California Adopts New ‘Next Gen’ Science Standards
The State Board of Education yesterday approved a new set of science standards, dubbed the Next Generation Science Standards, which emphasize “a deeper focus on understanding the cross-cutting concepts” of scientific disciplines, according to a press release by the California Department of education. The standards were developed in a collaboration with a number of states over the last 18...
By Hillel Aron | September 5, 2013
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Morning Read: Parents Rally to Save Classroom Breakfasts
Parents Rally to Save Classroom Breakfasts Union officials representing school cafeteria workers led a noisy rally of parents Tuesday to save a Los Angeles Unified classroom breakfast program that feeds nearly 200,000 children but was in danger of being axed after sharp criticism by teachers. Los Angeles Times See also: LA Daily News, CBS LAUSD...
By LA School Report | May 1, 2013
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Morning Read: Board Likely to Back Classroom Breakfast
L.A. Unified Board Will Back Classroom Breakfast Program A majority of L.A. Unified School Board members said they will vote to continue a classroom breakfast program that feeds nearly 200,000 children but was in danger of being axed after sharp criticism by the teachers union. LA Times See also: LA School Report, KPCC The Messy...
By LA School Report | April 30, 2013
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Morning Read: State & District Graduation Rates Rise
Graduations Up, Dropouts Down in LAUSD, Statewide High school graduation rates for Los Angeles Unified and districts across California increased last year, with Latino students showing larger gains than their white and Asian classmates, the state Department of Education said Tuesday. LA Daily News See also: LA Times, KPCC Villaraigosa Criticizes Mayoral Candidates Over Education...
By Samantha Oltman | April 10, 2013
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Morning Read: Parent Trigger Lessons for LAUSD
L.A. Parent Group Applies Lessons From Compton, Adelanto Efforts to Take Over School The 24th Street Elementary School Parent Union has received eight letters of interest from groups wanting a chance to reform the school. Six are from established charter schools, one is from a retired 24th Street teacher and one is from L.A. Unified...
By Samantha Oltman | February 4, 2013
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Morning Read: Still No Race to the Top Deal
LAUSD, Other Districts Miss Out on Race to the Top Grants as Unions Won’t Sign Applications The two sides resumed informal discussions on Monday after the deadline was extended because of Hurricane Sandy, but still couldn’t reach an agreement. Daily News See also the LA Times Gov. Jerry Brown Has Yet to Pick a Central...
By Hillel Aron | October 30, 2012