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Morning Read: In bipartisan vote, House approves ‘No Child’ rewrite

House leaves ‘No Child’ education law behind The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bipartisan K-12 education bill. Washington Post, By Lyndsey Layton Leaves of absence tighten school labor pool Teachers taking months-long breaks from schools have steadily increased over the past decade, according to a report to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Cabinet...
By LA School Report | December 3, 2015
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Complaint: Google Chromebooks rigged to spy on students

A digital rights group in San Francisco has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Google, accusing it of spying on students that use the company’s Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education (GAFE) software by collecting and data mining children’s personal information, including their Internet searches. If true, the practice might violate...
By Craig Clough | December 2, 2015
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Larchmont Charter gears up for fight over nearby cell phone tower

Parents, teachers and school administrators from Larchmont Charter School in West Hollywood are protesting a cell phone tower proposed for a church bell tower next to the campus, with a large turnout expected at a public hearing at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the West Hollywood Library. The independent charter school is overseen by LAUSD but...
By Mike Szymanski | December 2, 2015
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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