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Morning Read: Possible cell tower near LAUSD school angers parents

Parents upset over cell tower possible being installed near WeHo school Parents said radiation from the cell tower will have harmful effects on their children. ABC7, by Mayde Gomez Judge rules district not liable in arrest of special ed student in drug sting In 2012, it was called Operation Glasshouse, an undercover drug investigation at...
By LA School Report | December 2, 2015
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Surprise tribute to Cortines interrupts school board session

Outgoing LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines got a series of big surprises this afternoon with a long-planned tribute that included a group of students singing for him and old friends stopping by district headquarters to honor his legacy. The school board auditorium was packed for the event, which Cortines knew nothing about. The seven school...
By Mike Szymanski | December 1, 2015
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Parent petition urging LAUSD board to ‘Save Our Summer!’

* UPDATED As LA Unified studies several academic calendar options while also reaching out for public input, a group of parents has started an online petition, asking the district not to consider the “extreme” option of shortening summer break to five weeks while extending winter break to seven. An advisory panel is currently studying six...
By Craig Clough | December 1, 2015
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New report: CA trans-K helps but still needs improvement

A new report from the American Institutes of Research shows that young children have up to five months of learning advantage compared with children who don’t get an extra year of kindergarten. But the report — Impact of California’s Transitional Kindergarten Program, 2013-14 — also points out that there’s a long way to go in funding the pre-school program...
By Mike Szymanski | December 1, 2015
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LAUSD launches new system for teachers to request tech help

LA Unified teachers should have fewer problems getting their Fall term grades in and their report cards out before the winter break, thanks to a new computer help program launched yesterday. The new service request system has been years in the planning. Teachers and staff can get technical help with computers, applications, internet and other technology issues...
By Mike Szymanski | December 1, 2015
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LA Unified board pledges the flag, then disappears to closed meeting

After a public session this morning in which most of the time (3 minutes) was consumed by the Pledge of Allegiance, the LA Unified school board disappeared into a closed meeting to discuss the next steps in the search for a new school superintendent, including who some of the candidates might be. Joining the members...
By Mike Szymanski | December 1, 2015
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Compromise struck on No Child Left Behind rewrite

By Emma Brown Federal lawmakers on Monday released the final text of a compromise bill to rewrite No Child Left Behind, including closely watched language outlining how the nation’s K-12 schools would be judged — and how struggling schools would be improved — if the legislation passes. The bill, dubbed the Every Student Succeeds Act, would largely shift authority from...
By LA School Report | December 1, 2015
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Morning Read: CA helps lead nation away from testing focus

California leads drive to reverse focus on standardized tests California is on course to have a major impact on reshaping the national discourse – and practice – on this issue. EdSource, by Louis Freedberg Who’s afraid of Campbell Brown? Brown’s new endeavor is all about kickstarting her ambitious plans to reshape the education debate in...
By LA School Report | December 1, 2015
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Zimmer makes plea for seniors to apply to state universities

LAUSD School Board President Steve Zimmer has sent out an email reminder that midnight tonight is the deadline for students to apply to the University of California and California State University systems. “Tonight’s deadline is one of the most important demarcation points in our struggle,” noted Zimmer, whose personal newsletter reaches parents, teachers, counselors and students....
By Mike Szymanski | November 30, 2015
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Report: CA’s public universities turning away more applicants

California’s public colleges and universities are turning away a record number of applicants and raising admission standards due to insufficient state funding, a new report has concluded. The report, “Access Denied: Rising Selectivity at California’s Public Universities,” which was produced by the Campaign for College Opportunity, comes just as LA Unified’s effort to get more of its...
By Craig Clough | November 30, 2015