* UPDATED The LA Unified principals’ union, Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, AALA, decided last night to endorse three of the four incumbents in the March 3 school board elections. The exception is Scott Schmerelson, a former teacher and administrator who is one of five people challenging Tamar Galatzan in District 3. Judith Perez, the AALA...

The group of public interest lawyers that were behind the temporary restraining order that forced the state to fix an array of scheduling problems at Jefferson High School last fall have asked the court for intervention at two more LA Unified schools and three others in the state. ACLU lawyer David Sapp said the order would...

Via The New York Times | By Motoko Rich Teach for America, the education powerhouse that has sent thousands of handpicked college graduates to teach in some of the nation’s most troubled schools, is suddenly having recruitment problems. For the second year in a row, applicants for the elite program have dropped, breaking a 15-year growth...

L.A. Unified food guru David Binkle is pulled from job David Binkle, LAUSD’s 52-year-old food services director has been removed from his position pending an internal district investigation. Los Angeles Times Bill would cap large payouts to school superintendents A California lawmaker wants to limit the generous payouts that school districts award school superintendents who...

The slow pace of progress toward a new contract in the teachers union negotiations with LA Unified is, so far, costing Board President Richard Vladovic any possibility of union support for his reelection. The UTLA political action committee met last night, and a motion to recommend an endorsement to the union’s House of Representatives failed to...

Bennett Kayser, who represents District 5 on the LA Unified school board, is front and center tonight, facing his two rivals for the first time in a much anticipated candidate forum at Eagle Rock High School. After suddenly pulling out of two forums last week, Kayser is appearing in the wake of a recent attack mailer...

California Gov. Jerry Brown appears open to restricting vaccine waivers Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday appeared open to legislation that would eliminate all but medical waivers. Los Angeles Times Classroom coaches critical as teachers shift to Common Core California schools are using instructional coaches as a key tool to help teachers adapt their instruction to...

UTLA, the LA Unified teachers union, is offering tonight an unvarnished public view of its bargaining position in negotiations with LA Unified for a new teachers contract. Board member Steve Zimmer is scheduled to moderate a panel discussion at Occidental College that includes UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and...

L.A. teachers union call in national leader to rally members United Teachers Los Angeles has called in the president of its national affiliate to help rally members behind contract demands that could lead to the first strike in 25 years. Los Angeles Daily News State pushing for exemption from NCLB test score requirement For the...

With the eyes of the educational world closely watching the Vergara v. California case as it awaits an appeal ruling, the libertarian-tilted publication Reason magazine is the latest national media organization to profile the issue. The magazine and its affiliated Reason.tv website interviewed a number of people involved, including 14-year-old Vergara plaintiff and LA Unified...