L.A. teachers union seeks to raise dues as it fights a charter school push This week the union asked its 32,000 members — down from 45,000 in 2008 — to raise their dues by nearly a third. The votes will be counted Wednesday. Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume ICE agents won’t be going onto...

Going into Tuesday’s LA Unified school board meeting, three-for-three was the Charter School Division’s recommendations against two new charters and a renewal. In the end, it went the other way, with two votes going in charters’ favor (a new school plus a renewal for the Partnership to Uplift Communities) and one vote postponed (a new charter...

The LA Unified school board is scheduled to hold an open session meeting today at 1 p.m. Items up for discussion include a vote on the closed Highlander campus in the San Fernando Valley, which El Camino Real wants to develop into a K-8 campus. There will also be votes and public meetings on several charter school applications and...

Vote on smaller June school construction bond possible within a week The move would require a rapid series of committee and floor votes to meet ballot deadlines over the next week, and success is far from certain. Sacramento Bee, by Jim Miller Hoaxers increasingly going online to threaten schools In almost every instance, the threats...

Under the leaking roofs of Los Angeles Unified schools Every time El Niño dumps rain on the city, dozens of LA Unified schools feel the impact of old architecture and outdated roofs. Los Angeles Times, by Sonali Kohli How two San Fernando Valley schools have kept learning after an epic gas leak After LA Unified took the...

Michelle King talks to 100 community leaders Speaking at an NAACP reception at First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the new LAUSD superintendent discussed her plans and challenges for the district. Los Angeles Wave, by Cynthia Gibson What happens to the $63 million if no one claims California lottery ticket? Money from unclaimed lottery tickets goes...

Hit singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha surprises Jefferson High students with a donation of musical instruments

Troubling audit on mental health services for students A state audit has revealed problem areas in mental health services at some schools, including reductions in services and, in some cases, a backlog of unspent cash. Cabinet Report, by Kimberly Beltran State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participation The federal No Child Left Behind...

Legislators challenge Sacramento to tackle teacher shortage Three California lawmakers have introduced a package of bills designed to attract new teachers to the profession. EdSource, by Louis Freedberg and John Fensterwald As California faces a dire teacher shortage, should other states worry too? A new report suggests that California should expand routes to the classroom...

CA schools freed from costly after-school tutoring mandate California joined more than 40 states granted a waiver by the US Department of Education from sanctions established under No Child Left Behind. KPCC, by Annie Gilbertson Results due from new rating system for 6 school districts The CORE districts in the state, including LAUSD, received a waiver...