The teachers union has a new communications director – its third since June, and LAUSD’s much-hyped “social media director” is moving on to greener pastures. Suzanne Spurgeon, former CNN Vice President, replaces Kim Turner, who replaced Marla Eby in the summer. LAUSD, meanwhile, no longer employs Stephanie Abrams, who served briefly as their social media...

Analysis Examines L.A. Teacher Characteristics The difference in performance between top- and bottom-performing elementary math teachers was one-quarter of a standard deviation, or nearly eight months of learning, a figure the report characterizes as larger than in other districts that have been studied. Teacher Beat  Deadline to Apply for LAUSD Magnet Schools Is Friday The...

A total of 356 teachers nominated themselves for seats on UTLA’s 350-member House of Representatives, triggering internal elections for UTLA policy-setting body that that have not been required in recent years due to low numbers. There will be elections held in 22 of the 32 electoral districts (see list of nominees in contested areas here). In...

Los Angeles Tops Nation in Charter School Enrollment More students from Los Angeles Unified attend charter schools than from any other district in America – by far. Nearly one out of seven LAUSD students now attend charters. Ed Source Deasy’s $17.5M Request for Computer Tablet Funds Nixed The panel that oversees spending of Los Angeles...

Today, members from the Bond Oversight Committee blocked Phase I of Superintendent John Deasy’s plan to provide tablet computers for all students and faculty by the end of 2013. The first phase of Deasy’s plan called for spending $17.4 million on tablets for 14 secondary schools. The Bond Oversight Committee voted 7-3 to approve the...

LAUSD Restores Full Academic Year and Full Pay The actions were made possible by passage of Proposition 30. Members also approve a resolution to charge fees when charters claim more space on traditional campuses than they need. LA Times See also  ABC 7, KTLA, CBS, Daily News, KPCC, & LA School Report LAUSD Rejects Voluntary Moratorium on...

Inside the meeting room at Tuesday’s LAUSD school board meeting, four television camera crews were present to watch the board vote unanimously to rescind 10 furlough days (five of which are instructional), thanks to the passage of Proposition 30. The board also voted to adopt a “Good Food Purchasing Policy.” But the healthy food vote and...

Board member Bennett Kayser’s recently announced proposal to have Board members recuse themselves from certain votes is brief – only 85 words — and appealingly vague. Board members would “automatically recuse themselves from voting on a charter contract if they have received campaign contributions six months prior to the vote.” But already it has generated some...

Budget Shortfall Latest Threat to Schools, Even With Promise of Prop 30 Around the Capitol, attention has turned to the annual revenue forecast, due from the non-partisan Legislative Analyst this week, that also offers the first hard look at the size of next year’s budget deficit. SI&A Cabinet Report Brown to Schools: Expect Fiscal Reform,...

The final list of declared candidates for LAUSD school board is in, and the campaigns for Districts 2, 4, and 6 — three spots currently held by those with ties to Superintendent Deasy and his “reform” agenda — will likely eclipse 2011’s races in terms of spending and nastiness. But who are the key challengers...