Education division has ‘no vision’ for how to help students with disabilities Some students with disabilities in Los Angeles County are getting shortchanged by the bureaucracy that is supposed to ensure they receive a good education, according to a consultant’s report. Los Angeles Times, by Joy Resmovits LA Unified staff rejecting more charter applications, but...

Regulations would outlaw classes that fail to teach students anything The State Board of Education today will consider adopting emergency regulations designed to prohibit high schools from assigning students to “faux” or repeat classes that rob them of learning time. Cabinet Report, by Kimberly Beltran A dozen districts offer free SAT to all juniors, EdSource White...

The LA Unified school board is scheduled to hold an open session meeting today at 1 p.m. Items up for discussion include consideration of major upgrades at school sites throughout the district. Other potential board actions include staff recommendations for the denial of the charter petition for WISH Academy High School and the renewal of the charter for...

An LAUSD teacher is named National Teacher of the Year finalist Daniel Jocz’s curriculum includes a more inclusive approach to history and an assist from Taylor Swift. Los Angeles Magazine, by Emily Goldberg Some schools have bake sales. This West Hollywood fundraiser got Beyoncé, Los Angeles Times Oil and gas firm reactivates long-idle wells near L.A....

Advocates voice ‘grave concern’ over LAUSD’s charter schools review process Charter school leaders are rallying behind applicants who hope to open a new charter high school, intensifying their accusation that Los Angeles Unified School District officials are playing politics with charter applications. KPCC, by Kyle Stokes LA Unified keeps schools open after receiving ‘non-credible’ threat,...

As SAT enters a new era this week, students say the exam has improved The new version of the SAT aims more than ever to measure core skills taught in school, such as reading charts, analyzing evidence and applying algebra in mathematical problems. Washington Post, by Nick Anderson Disturbing cellphone video shows violent attack on...

Debate emerges over state actions needed to ease teacher shortages As California school districts grapple with a widening shortage of teachers, a policy debate has emerged about just how actively the state should be involved in trying to remedy the problem. EdSource, by Louis Freedberg When social and emotional learning is key to college success,...

LAUSD plans a Common Core makeover for its elementary report cards The report card changes are being proposed as part of a plan to better help parents track how well students are mastering the expectations spelled out in new sets of academic standards. The new report cards significantly expand the section rating students’ academic performance....

As the presidential primaries enter their hothouse phase, one 2016 election lesson is clear: the United States’ demographic shifts are more politically important now than in other recent contests. Of course, this new diversity has been coming for some time — much of it driven by immigration patterns and low birth rates among native-born Americans....

LA schools chief to hold town hall Tuesday in San Fernando Valley The town hall, part of a promised “listening tour,” will allow new LA Unified Superintendent Michelle King to share her vision for the nation’s second largest school district. Los Angeles Daily News, by Dana Bartholomew Are synthetic playing surfaces hazardous to athletes’ health? Los...