-
2 teens drown in LA River, district provides counselors at school

Two teenage boys were found dead this weekend after drowning in the Los Angeles River near Cypress Park. For the second time in five weeks, Superintendent Michelle King issued a statement of condolences over the drowning of an LA Unified student. “On behalf of the district, I express my deepest condolences to the boys’ families...
By Mike Szymanski | May 2, 2016
-
Commentary: Everyone loves pre-K, but no one’s asking the key question: How do we train early educators?

As I’ve recently written, most of the hottest K–12 topics are already settled for the 2016 election cycle. But that doesn’t mean that education is going to be entirely relegated to the sidelines. Keep an eye on early education policy, where various candidates have strong interest in and credentials for making their mark with new, interesting (or, erm, “interesting”)...
By Conor Williams | May 2, 2016
-
Morning Read: Granada Hills Charter wins U.S. Academic Decathlon again

Granada Hills Charter High School wins U.S. Academic Decathlon Granada Hills Charter High School won its fifth U.S. Academic Decathlon national championship on Saturday, defending its prestigious title in Anchorage, Alaska. By Dana Bartholomew, Los Angeles Daily News High school club spices up sex ed with music, theater and humor, KPCC 12-year-old girl claims LAUSD failed...
By LA School Report | May 2, 2016
-
Some races, English learners struggling with A-G standards but have come a long way

There is a wide gulf of disparity when it comes to the performance of races and subgroups in LA Unified’s A through G completion and graduation rates, but these groups have come a long way and are doing better than ever before. Recent district reports breaking down the graduation rate as it heads into the final...
By Craig Clough | April 29, 2016
-
It’s graduation time — for parents. Garcetti, board member Garcia to join hundreds at weekend ceremony

April is graduation month, at least for parents in LA, and tomorrow more than 400 parents will be honored in their own graduation ceremony with a keynote address by Mayor Eric Garcetti and welcome from LA Unified board member Monica Garcia. Saturday morning’s event at Roosevelt High School is the last of three graduations taking...
By LA School Report | April 29, 2016
-
16,000 seniors failing with 6 weeks to go: The double-edged sword of LAUSD’s raised bar for graduation

The LA Unified school board faced a difficult decision in June. It had previously voted to raise the bar on its graduation requirements starting in 2016 in an effort to get more students into college, but it was clear not enough students were ready for the challenge and graduation rates would plummet if aggressive action...
By Craig Clough | April 28, 2016
-
Renowned educator warns that LA Unified’s future is ‘dire’

Internationally renowned education expert Pedro Noguera warned members of the LA Unified school board and superintendent that unless more serious measures are taken, the nation’s second-largest school district is destined to lose more students. “The future is dire,” Noguera told the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday afternoon. He pointed to entire neighborhoods in Philadelphia...
By Mike Szymanski | April 28, 2016
-
Morning Read: LAUSD school cop charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor

LAUSD police officer charged with attempted sex trafficking of a child A Los Angeles Unified School District police officer surrendered to federal agents Wednesday morning after he was accused of attempting to have sex with a minor, officials said. Los Angeles Times Charter schools sharing LAUSD campuses: Nobody loves it, everyone has to live with...
By LA School Report | April 28, 2016
-
Projected grad rate continues to rise for LAUSD, even with thousands failing at midterm

While LA Unified’s projected graduation rate continues to tick up this spring as seniors complete extra credit recovery courses to make up those they previously failed, 30 percent of those the district considers “on track” for graduation currently aren’t because they are failing at least one A through G class. To be labeled “on track” a...
By Craig Clough | April 27, 2016
-
12th-graders’ federal tests scores dip in math and reading while more manage to graduate

The nation’s 12th-grade students did slightly worse on national math and reading tests in 2015 than high school seniors did in 2013, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress results released today, even as high school graduation rates got better. The overall score decreases were quite small — roughly two points in math and a single...
By Matt Barnum | April 27, 2016