On Friday, the first hearing was held in Vergara v. California, a case that seeks to strike down five laws that could — for better or worse — end up being the most revolutionary education lawsuit in the history of California.  “What plaintiffs are asking for is far beyond scope of what the courts have...

Not taking any chances with tomorrow’s Board meeting, the advocacy arm of the California Charter Schools Association has been airing a radio ad blasting Steve Zimmer for his proposals to strengthen oversight for charter schools. Airing on KNX, KFI and KOST, the ad highlights the waiting lists for charters and decries Zimmer’s proposal for creating...

Candidates File Papers to Run For L.A. School Board The March election could change the course of a new teacher evaluation system, the union’s dealings with charters and, possibly, the future of Supt. John Deasy. LA Times Mother of Twins, Lawyer and Activist Goes After Anti-Charter Zimmer Kate Anderson, an activist mom and successful attorney...

Today’s deadline for LAUSD teachers to nominate themselves for UTLA’s House of Representatives raises two key questions: The immediate question is will there be enough nominees to require an actual election. In the last few cycles, the numbers have been so few that self-nomination was tantamount to election. The underlying question is whether the House of...

Following up on a comment made at the September Board meeting, LAUSD Board Member Bennett Kayser plans on introducing a resolution at Tuesday’s upcoming board meeting that would force board members to “automatically recuse themselves from voting on a charter contract if they have received campaign contributions six months prior to the vote.” Also on...

Lawsuit Against Teacher Tenure Poised to Move Forward A lawsuit to overturn teacher tenure laws and seniority rights remained on track Thursday when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling allowing the litigation to move forward. LA Times [read full text here] Local Votes of Confidence: Most Bonds, Parcel Taxes Pass Proposition 30,...

Kate Anderson tells LA School Report that she plans on filing paperwork today to run for LAUSD school board, in District 4, where she will take on sitting board member Steve Zimmer. Anderson currently serves as the Los Angeles director of Children Now and sits on the board of the Mar Vista Community Council.  She had told us previously she was...

LAUSD Looks to Restore Some Staff, Programs With Prop. 30 Revenue The passage of Prop. 30 means the district may be able to cancel some of the 10 unpaid furlough days facing teachers and other district employees, he said. Moving forward, some of the thousands of lost jobs may be restored. Daily News L.A. Teachers Union...

The morning after California voters passed Proposition 30, which temporarily raises taxes to avoid further cuts to public education, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy expressed gratitude in a written statement: “These funds will better equip us to provide a quality education to all LAUSD youth over the next several years and begin the road back to...

One election’s not even over before the next one begins. Candidates have to declare their intent to run in the March 2013 municipal elections with the city clerk’s office. this week.  So far in District 2, candidates include Michelle “Hope” Walker, Robert D. Skeels, Mónica García (the incumbent and sitting school board president), Eleanor García, and Isabel Vazquez....