4 L.A. schools defer iPads, citing security, liability issues Four Los Angeles schools, scheduled to receive iPads in this first rollout of the tablets, have pulled out of the initial phase, saying that they want to wait at least until security and other issues are resolved. The rejection apparently is temporary — the schools still...

New funding formula revives push for smaller class sizes Just weeks into the school year, some districts are struggling with a provision in California’s dramatic revision of its school financing system that calls for smaller class sizes in grades K-3. The new funding formula, signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in July, gives school...

LAUSD official fighting to keep sexual-harassment suit alive Attorneys for a Los Angeles Unified facilities executive filed a motion Wednesday to keep alive his lawsuit claiming the district defamed him and invaded his privacy while trying to settle sexual-harassment allegations involving retired Superintendent Ramon Cortines. The documents filed on behalf of Scot Graham, director of...

LAUSD President Richard Vladovic issues apology; seeking help A day after Los Angeles Unified released two claims accusing him of harassment, school board President Richard Vladovic admitted Tuesday that he’d violated the district’s “civility policy” and apologized to employees who’d felt intimidated by him. Vladovic also said he’d sought “professional help” for anger issues. “I...

Complaints detail alleged harassment by LAUSD board President Vladovic Los Angeles Unified released two redacted complaints late Monday against school board President Richard Vladovic that triggered a three-month investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against two of his former staff members. One, a six-page complaint filed by a female staff member, details eight...

L.A. school board to review $1-billion iPad project The Los Angeles Board of Education has scheduled a special Oct. 29 meeting to review efforts to provide iPads to every student and teacher in the nation’s second-largest school system. The meeting was proposed by board member Monica Ratliff, who chairs a district committee that is overseeing...

Brown signs bill delaying exams despite Duncan’s threat With threats of federal repercussions waylaid by the government shutdown, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday signed a bill that suspends most standardized tests and replaces them with a no-stakes field test aligned to the new Common Core standards. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan previously threatened to...

L.A. Unified can’t afford $1-billion budget wish list, official says L.A. Unified will need more than $1 billion to pay for additional teachers, a longer school year and other items favored by Board of Education members — but the chance of acquiring such funds is zero, the district’s financial chief said Tuesday. Board members had...