Can American students get smart? Commentary: The latest international test scores of 15-year-olds are in, and the results are appalling. The Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, found that the United States — the most affluent country in the world — failed to rank in the top 20 in any category. LA Times LAUSD board member...

Protests against LAUSD’s ‘teacher jails’ held Calling for an end to what they say is harassment, hundreds of United Teachers Los Angeles members rallied at district offices across the city late Monday afternoon to support educators removed from classrooms and housed in so-called teacher jails while allegations of misconduct are investigated. LA Daily News California...

Brown’s overhaul of California school finances sparks infighting Commentary: Gov. Jerry Brown’s landmark overhaul of public schools’ finances was aimed at their most vexing issue – chronically low academic achievements among poor or “English-learner” students. Not only would more money be spent – billions more, in fact, thanks to a tax increase – but state aid...

If Warren Fletcher is reelected president of the LA Unified teachers union, UTLA, it won’t be easy. At yesterday’s filing deadline, the union announced that eight others – all men — are challenging him for a three-year term that begins next year. The size of the field, which includes one current UTLA officer, Secondary Vice...

LA Unified board member Tamar Galatzan is bringing aboard a new chief of staff, and anyone familiar with how the nation’s second-largest school district works and doesn’t work has the new hire to thank. Barbara Jones is stepping away from a long and distinguished newspaper career, the last 26 years at the LA Daily News,...

Marguerite LaMotte, the long-serving member of the LA Unified school board, died this morning in San Diego, where she was attending a meeting of the California School Boards Association. She was 80. A former teacher and principal, LaMotte was first elected to the board in 2003, before term limits were put in effect, and remained...

Marguerite LaMotte, a member of the LA Unified school board since 2003, died this morning, the district has confirmed. She was 80. LaMotte had been attending a meeting of the California School Boards Association meeting in San Diego. Board President Richard Vladovic and Superintendent John Deasy were also attending. LaMotte was the longest-serving member of...