-
PBS NewsHour examines LA Unified’s MiSiS crisis
The national television program PBS NewsHour dedicated a segment on Friday to LA Unified’s disastrous MiSiS computer system and the problems it has caused for the district’s students and administrators, as well as asking what lessons other districts in the country might learn from the crisis. The segment features an interview with Los Angeles Times...
By Craig Clough | December 1, 2014
-
Man arrested at LAUSD board meeting for ‘annoying’ calls
A man known for aggressive and sometimes belligerent public comments at LA Unified school board meetings was arrested outside a board committee meeting at district headquarters on Oct. 28 and charged with three misdemeanor counts of making “annoying” phone calls to board member Tamar Galatzan months before. The man, George Buzzetti, 67, has been speaking...
By Craig Clough | November 25, 2014
-
Morning Read: LAUSD sex assault court argument under scrutiny
LAUSD expert argues girl with low IQ may suffer less after assault A psychologist hired by LAUSD testified that a 9-year-old girl’s low IQ provided a “protective factor” from a sexual assault. KPCC Before LAUSD travel ban, Deasy flew 100k miles last year Former LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy traveled more than 100,000 miles last...
By Craig Clough | November 25, 2014
-
Caputo-Pearl asks energetic UTLA rally: ‘Are you ready for a fight?’
The message was clear from United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) President Alex Caputo-Pearl as he spoke to hundreds of energetic, amped-up supporters yesterday: If teachers are going to get the raise and other concessions they are demanding from LA Unified in a new contract, it is going to be a fight. “Now folks, we’ve got...
By Craig Clough | November 21, 2014
-
LA Unified officials praise Obama’s immigration order
In a rare sign of unanimity, LA Unified officials and school board member are praising President Obama‘s immigration speech last night. The order relieves the threat of deportation for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants, including parents of children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. It also expands eligibility for those who were brought...
By Craig Clough | November 21, 2014
-
Report: ‘Forced’ parent work at charter schools violates state law
* UPDATED If you are required to do it, is it still “volunteering”? That is the question at the heart of a report issued yesterday by Public Advocates, which researched 555 charter schools in California and found that 30 percent of them require parents to do work at the school for a set quota of...
By Craig Clough | November 20, 2014
-
Teachers to petition Supreme Court in case vs. CTA over dues
In a case that has implications for millions of public employees in more than two dozen states, a group of California teachers is planning to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case against the California Teachers Association (CTA) over union dues. The case involves a state’s right to require public employees to pay...
By Craig Clough | November 19, 2014
-
Morning Read: LA Unified board discusses Miramonte settlement
L.A. Unified discusses possible settlement in Miramonte case The LA Unified board discussed a possible settlement offer Tuesday involving a former Miramonte Elementary teacher accused of abusing students. Los Angeles Times LAUSD head Cortines to ask for $53 million in bonds to repair MiSiS LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said he plans to ask the school...
By Craig Clough | November 19, 2014
-
95 LAUSD schools on state list of 1,000 underperformers
The California Department of Education released its annual list of 1,000 underperforming schools earlier this month. The list includes 95 from LA Unified, and students attending them can now apply for an open enrollment transfer to any other public school in California for the next academic year. The list is compiled each year as a result...
By Craig Clough | November 18, 2014
-
LA region sees fastest charter school growth in state
The Los Angeles region has seen the largest increases in the state in new charter schools this academic year, with 33 new charters opening, according to data released today by the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA). With the growth in LA and elsewhere, California remains the state with the most charter schools and students in the nation....
By Craig Clough | November 18, 2014