Star Wars 101: Teachers using the force to teach politics, myths, monsters In order to amp up student engagement in their classrooms, these teachers aren’t using any Jedi mind tricks. But they are using The Force. The 74, by Mark Keierleber Teacher: Why I stopped assigning homework to my third graders Teacher Lisa Nassar explains...

Handling of L.A. schools shutdown offers a civics lesson Garcetti’s seemingly innocuous statement underscored the jurisdictional divisions that marked L.A. government’s response to the threat. Los Angeles Times, by Peter Jamison and Howard Blume LAUSD works to close two Porter Ranch schools over gas leak The Board of Education is scheduled to consider a proposal...

The email that shut down LA schools came from an ‘Internet meme sewer’ It’s been traced back to a barebones email server that hosts thousands of accounts. Huffington Post, by Ryan Grenoble Parents, teachers grapple to explain Los Angeles school threat The Los Angeles Unified School District will offer counseling to students when they return...

L.A. Unified to pay $320,000 settlement in teacher misconduct case The district agreed to the settlement this year; it was announced after the conclusion of court proceedings, said attorney Paul Mones, who was co-counsel for the victim. Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume Santa Rosa schools weighing ethnic studies program Eight school districts throughout the...

Protesters call for immediate shutdown of Porter Ranch gas field Parents at a rally called upon the Los Angeles Unified School District to relocate two Porter Ranch elementary schools located just over a mile from a leaking well. Los Angeles Daily News, by Dana Bartholomew State grapples with timeline for implementation of new science standards...

Students react to outgoing superintendent Ramon Cortines The take-away for the high schools students: Don’t trust kids with technology, get us updated textbooks, and improve our schools at the bottom. Los Angeles Times, by Daniela Gerson A kids’ coding expert says we’re making computer class way too boring LA Unified and other districts wanting to...

Attorneys for famed teacher Rafe Esquith criticize release of documents The documents include allegations that Esquith fondled children in the 1970s before he was a teacher, as well as more recent claims of inappropriate behavior. Los Angeles Times, by Zahira Torres Cortines criticizes Broad, calls on warring factions to work together  In a conversation at...

L.A. school board to hold second round of interviews for superintendent The first interview session took place Sunday, and if it is any guide, the public will learn little from these meetings until the board makes its choice. Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume Shortage of substitute teachers prompts East Bay school districts to raise...

Board starts the superintendent screening process Except for brief periods to open and close the meeting, the entire session was conducted out of public view, and no announcement was made at the conclusion. Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume Amid national change, Fresno Unified touts rare accountability system While a national shift in the way...