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The trailblazers: Of the first 40 charter schools in LAUSD, half are still open
California school districts started authorizing independent charter schools in 1993. The reformers who created them were inspired to try a different model of public education — one they believed had the potential to better serve disadvantaged, low-income students who were disproportionately stuck in lower-performing schools. Public charter schools were granted flexibilities to have a longer...
By Mike Szymanski | September 11, 2017
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Celerity charter revamps management structure and seeks approval by LAUSD and state board next week
Celerity Educational Group, which operates seven Los Angeles-area independent charter schools, has untangled its complicated management structure that had been the subject of a lengthy investigation by LA Unified. Next week, the LA Unified school board will vote on material revisions to the charters of the four Celerity schools it oversees which spell out the new management...
By Mike Szymanski | September 7, 2017
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When you forget to pay the bill — why LAUSD.net went down
Labor Day weekend was labor-intensive for thousands of teachers who had to get their grades in by Tuesday using a new grading system. But when they went to sign in at LAUSD.net, the site was down. Not just down. The domain name showed that “lausd.net has expired.” Had the budget woes become so severe that...
By Mike Szymanski | September 6, 2017
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Los Angeles educators and leaders speak with one voice in support of DACA students
Educators and local leaders in Los Angeles came out fast and strong against Tuesday’s announcement ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and in support of the hundreds of thousands of students it has protected. Many worry about the effect on the families and children in schools. Here is a collection of statements with links...
By Mike Szymanski | September 5, 2017
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‘Equity’ and ‘urgency’ beat out ‘respect’ and ‘transparency’ as board chooses core values for LAUSD
“Respect,” “transparency,” and “teamwork” only got one vote each. Oh, and so did “humility.” The seven members of the largest school district in the country with an elected board gathered Tuesday at their first off-site retreat of the year, where they took a deep dive into health benefits but also hashed out core values for LA...
By Mike Szymanski | August 31, 2017
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LAUSD looks at ways of saving money by adjusting health benefits
With union leaders looking on, LA Unified’s school board spent four hours looking at options of how to cut or adjust health benefits to stave off a looming budget crisis. No decisions were made — the Tuesday “board retreat” was an information session — but the board analyzed details of the annual $1.1 billion in...
By Mike Szymanski | August 30, 2017
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LAUSD employees — and their benefits — at a glance
School board members spent half the day Tuesday digesting the data given to them about employee benefits. Chief Financial Officer Scott Price and Chief Risk Officer Janice Sawyer briefed the board on the health and welfare benefits for LA Unified employees and retirees and also detailed potential cost-saving measures. The ideas will have to be...
By Mike Szymanski | August 30, 2017
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Why do schools have Friday off? It’s the obscure state holiday of Admission Day
Friday is a day off in LA schools, but it’s not simply to turn Labor Day weekend into a four-day holiday. It’s Admission Day, a little-known state holiday that commemorates California being admitted into the United States as the 31st state on Sept. 9, 1850. This year, LA Unified recognizes the Sept. 9 state birthday on...
By Mike Szymanski | August 29, 2017
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No thanks, no tanks: LAUSD won’t take any surplus military equipment
The White House on Monday rescinded a ban on giving surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies, but don’t expect any of it to go to LA Unified. LA Unified School Police Chief Steve Zipperman issued a terse statement Monday: “LASPD no longer utilizes the 1033 program for military weapons procurement.” The 1033 program...
By Mike Szymanski | August 28, 2017
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Exclusive: LAUSD continues to add employees as enrollment drops
The number of LA Unified employees has increased even as enrollment continues to decline, according to district figures compiled this month for the new school year but not yet posted. This is in direct defiance of the strong recommendation by an Independent Financial Review Panel that urged a reduction of about 10,000 staff members, including...
By Mike Szymanski | August 28, 2017