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Black students and families need more support — and they need it now. An unprecedented coalition dives in with a new LAUSD task force.

An unprecedented coalition of community members, educators, parents, and students at LA Unified have convened a new task force to urgently address why African-American youth continue to have the lowest test scores and why black students and families continue to feel ignored by the education system. Black students persist in having LA Unified’s highest rates...
By Mike Szymanski | October 9, 2017
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7 years to a bachelor’s degree: California community college students who transfer to UC or CSU schools are trapped in a system that adds $38K to the cost of a diploma, new study shows

The main goal for most community college students in California is to transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree. But a new report shows it takes an average of 6.5 years to get a bachelor’s for students transferring to the University of California system and seven years for those transferring to the...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 5, 2017
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New data: Where are the charter schools in LAUSD?

LA Unified has more charter schools than any other school district in the nation, and an internal report presented this week had some interesting facts, including where most of them are located. Although common thought among some parents is that independent charter schools are located in wealthier communities, the statistics show that more than half...
By Mike Szymanski | October 5, 2017
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Looking for a school option for your child in LAUSD? New unified enrollment system is now open

Whether you are considering sending your child to a different school, looking for a themed academic program, or want your child to speak a second language, LA Unified is now accepting applications for magnet programs, permits with transportation, and dual language/bilingual programs through Nov. 9. Monday was the launch of LA Unified’s new unified enrollment system. The...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 4, 2017
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‘A breakdown of the partnership’: LAUSD board denies high-performing charter school’s renewal

The LA Unified school board on Tuesday unanimously denied a renewal petition for a high-performing charter school, citing a breakdown of communication between the school and the district’s Charter Schools Division. Officials from Lashon Academy had tried to negotiate with the district around its special education policies, but the district said the charter school’s petition...
By Sarah Favot and Mike Szymanski | October 3, 2017
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Las Vegas shooter attended LAUSD, several educators among the victims

* UPDATED The man authorities say is responsible for the worst mass shooting in recent history attended two LA Unified schools. His victims include at least six educators, including some from the Los Angeles area. Stephen Paddock, 64, who police say killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500 others on Sunday when he attacked...
By Mike Szymanski and Sarah Favot | October 3, 2017
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‘Exorbitant’ fees for a ‘dearth’ of special education services — An LA school may lose its charter for fighting back against LAUSD policies

An independent charter school says LA Unified charges too much for special education services and offers too little, so it wants to hold onto the option to get those services elsewhere. But because the San Fernando Valley school hasn’t indicated who will provide those services — and hasn’t promised to use LA Unified’s — it...
By Sarah Favot | October 2, 2017
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LAUSD school police join this week’s Coffee with a Cop

The LA Unified school police this week will join the national Coffee with a Cop movement, holding their first two community meet-ups on Wednesday and Thursday in the West Los Angeles area. The new community outreach plan uses social media to get the word out about the events starting Wednesday. The unique idea of police officers sitting down with...
By Mike Szymanski | October 2, 2017
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LAUSD’s ability to raise test scores for English learners and Latino students comes up short in newest data

Many Latino immigrant families came to this country with one objective: a better education for their children. But in the newly released test scores, English learners in LA Unified posted no growth at all for the second year in a row, and Latino students had one of the lowest growth rates among all other ethnic...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 2, 2017
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DACA Dreamers rush to renew permits; a majority of Americans support their fight; ICE raids continue

In Los Angeles, the lines to renew DACA permits are getting longer as the Oct. 5 deadline approaches, according to CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, which has been helping about 40 immigrants a day renew their permits for free. The usual processing cost is $495. The Trump Administration announced on Sept....
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | September 29, 2017