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LAUSD board eyes gifted magnet schools in Valley to stem brain drain

* UPDATED In a quiet effort that could help mitigate the proliferation of charter schools, the LA Unified board is scheduled to vote tomorrow on what would be first two gifted/highly gifted high school magnets in the San Fernando Valley. Taft High in Woodland Hills and Kennedy High in Granada Hills would join 14 other magnet...
By Mike Szymanski | October 12, 2015
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Teachers planning to protest charter plan as LAUSD board convenes

As the LA Unified board is holding its monthly meeting tomorrow, the teachers union, UTLA, is planning a sidewalk protest against the Broad Foundation’s plan to expand the number of charter schools in the district. The demonstration follows the release today of a Broad-commissioned poll, showing that a large majority of city residents want more choices...
By Mike Szymanski | October 12, 2015
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Broad poll finds large majorities favor LAUSD charter expansion

Nearly 90 percent of Los Angeles residents support improving the city’s public education system, and almost three quarters of them favor expanding charter public schools, according to a poll commissioned by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) released this morning. Conducted over 10 days through Oct. 1, the poll comes...
By LA School Report | October 12, 2015
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Commentary: Eliminating the exit exam was the right move

By Tom Torlakson California’s education system is transforming in positive ways. Replacing the high school exit exam with more modern and meaningful measures is a critical part of that work. Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Senate Bill 172 into law, eliminating the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) as a requirement for high school graduation....
By LA School Report | October 12, 2015
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Morning Read: Some districts ignoring state LCFF guidelines

Brown’s school budget reform embraced, exploited Many schools are investing in buildings with their LCFF dollars and are trying to divert funds to teacher salaries and ignoring their poorest students. San Jose Mercury News, by Sharon Noguchi Charter school battle heats up As these privately run, publicly funded schools expand, traditional ones are feeling threatened....
By LA School Report | October 12, 2015
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JUST IN: In reversal, Cortines says cameras can roll at LAUSD campuses

Take two? LA Unified Ramon Cortines has amended his decision yesterday to halt all film and TV productions on LA Unified campuses. In a statement just released by the district, Cortines said he will allow several projects in the works to move forward. He also said the district will approve new projects on a case-by-case...
By Craig Clough | October 9, 2015
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Community groups remain skeptical on LAUSD superintendent search

Some community groups deeply involved with Los Angeles education have raised skepticism over how they will be involved in the search and selection of the next LAUSD school superintendent and whether their views will count for anything. Nearly a dozen groups contacted by LA School Report said they have been unimpressed or uninvolved in efforts...
By Mike Szymanski | October 9, 2015
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Garcetti promoting local productions as Cortines shuts them down

One day after LA Unified abruptly announced that it is shutting down all film and TV productions from any of its campuses, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti visited the set of American Horror Story: Hotel today to promote how the California Film and TV Tax Credit is helping bring film and TV productions back to the LA area. The show...
By LA School Report | October 9, 2015
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LA Unified expanding transitional kindergarten across district

The Transitional Kindergarten Expansion program for LA Unified is under way this semester with teachers and principals being trained through January for 117 new sites. This is on the heels of the district’s losing 45 percent of its School Readiness Language Development Program. Transitional Kindergarten Expansion (TE or TKE) is a new grade level that is replacing...
By Mike Szymanski | October 9, 2015
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In switch, California school nutrition group opposes healthy lunch rules
By Jane Meredith Adams A half a cup of a fruit or vegetable is required in every school lunch served in America, under federal regulations now up for review in Congress, and as far as the California School Nutrition Association is concerned, that requirement needs to go. In a turn of events that belies California’s position as a...
By LA School Report | October 9, 2015