Deterioration of arts programs has been particularly jarring in LAUSD Budget cuts and a narrow focus on subjects that are measured on standardized tests have contributed to a vast reduction of public school arts programs across the U.S. Los Angeles Times, by Zahira Torres and Ryan Menezes Comprehensive Common Core survey sent to teachers, principals...

LAUSD ordered to pay $6M to 2 boys molested by Telfair teacher Two teenage boys were each awarded more than $3 million Thursday from Los Angeles Unified as compensation for being sexually abused in a Pacoima elementary school. CBS-LA.com 8,000 LAUSD students who failed exit exam eligible for diploma The students are those who failed...

District accountability plans mushroom in size and complexity The burgeoning size of the LCAPs is raising questions about whether after just two years in existence they are turning into a daunting bureaucratic exercise. EdSource, By Michael Collier and Louis Freedberg L.A. teachers weigh in on discipline in reaction to South Carolina case The South Carolina...

LAUSD fires lawyer (again) who blamed student for sex with teacher Veteran attorney W. Keith Wyatt will no longer handle cases for the nation’s second-largest school system, the district confirmed Tuesday. Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume A backgrounder on the Alliance — UTLA dispute The PERB sued Alliance College-Ready Public Charter Schools and its...

Obama administration announces new testing guidelines The Obama administration announced new guidelines toward standardized tests, saying kids spend too much time taking “unnecessary” exams in schools. CNN, by Laurie Ure and Kevin Liptak Families are choosing this L.A. school over privates and charters As L.A. Unified’s enrollment shrinks, with tens of thousands of students fleeing...

Who might head LA Unified after Cortines? What type of person would the next superintendent be? And who would want a job that presents almost insurmountable challenges? Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume DOE to schools: You must teach all students, regardless of legal status The Edu­ca­tion De­part­ment just is­sued a subtle re­mind­er to edu­cat­ors...

Charters’ clout grows as top performer to disadvantaged Half of the top-performing schools serving low-income students in California are charters, according to a new analysis of test scores. Cabinet Report, by Kimberly Beltran Principal churn highlights tension in in San Diego school district Since San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten took over in 2013, about...

Friedrichs v. CTA: What you need to know about challenge to union dues The lawsuit challenges the authority of the CTA and other public-employee unions to collect mandatory fees, a main source of their income and, by extension, their power. EdSource, by John Fensterwald More than half of LGBT students have felt unsafe at school...

California’s 2013-14 grad rate increased from year before The state’s graduation rate mirrored the previously announced national average of 81 percent. EdSource, by Theresa Harrington Final budget report notes big school spending upturn The Proposition 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32 percent from the depth of the recession to surpass $68.4 billion...

Schools across US find alternatives to suspending students The school districts in New York, Los Angeles and Denver are just some of those that have moved away from discipline policies that relied heavily on suspensions. Associated Press, by Jamie Stengel How Fresno Unified bond measure caught the eye of investigators Critics say what Fresno Unified...