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NEA endorses Clinton for Democratic presidential nomination

By Lyndsey Layton The National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union, endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. “We recommended Hillary Clinton on the incredible and lengthy track record she has, that is just wrapped around children, working families and education, from preschool to graduate school,” NEA president Lily...
By LA School Report | October 5, 2015
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Morning Read: Delayed test results frustrating parents, educators

Late parent notification of test results frustrates some educators The California Department of Education said the delays were due in part to a desire to ship all the reports at once. EdSource, by Theresa Harrington Obama vs. teachers unions: It’s still on Unions wanted Obama to fire Arne Duncan. They got John King instead. Politico, by...
By LA School Report | October 5, 2015
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An LASR Poll: Tell us what months kids should be in school

LA Unified is gathering public input on six different academic calendars it is considering for the years ahead. However, there have been technical glitches with its phone survey, and it isn’t clear when or if it will be completed. The stories here at LA School Report about the calendar options have attracted a high level of interest...
By LA School Report | October 2, 2015
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The ‘reanimation’ of John Deasy, will the next superintendent be a native?

UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl released a 12-minute video on YouTube today in which he asks members to vote for a dues increase. According to Caputo-Pearl, the union has not updated its dues structure since its inception 45 years ago, which now “literally threatens the future of UTLA.” In the video, Caputo-Pearl points out that UTLA’s...
By LA School Report | October 2, 2015
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School support union asking LAUSD for same benefit package for all

The union representing school support personnel is pressing LAUSD to provide the same health benefits for all its members, fearing that the district wants to create a second-class level of employees. Among the 35,000 members of Service Employees International Union Local 99 (SEIU) are about 7,000 who work as teacher aides, community representatives, after-school coaches and...
By Mike Szymanski | October 2, 2015
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JUST IN: Ed Secretary Arne Duncan stepping down in December

WASHINGTON — Arne Duncan, the secretary of education and a member of President Obama’s original cabinet, will step down in December after a long tenure in which he repeatedly challenged the nation’s schools to break out of their hidebound ways. A White House official confirmed Mr. Duncan’s decision to step down and said the president...
By LA School Report | October 2, 2015
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Q&A with Tommy Chang, on leading a school system like a startup

By Michael Fitzgerald What the new Boston superintendent has to say about testing, charter schools, and innovation. Globe Magazine: You’ve been handing out Atul Gawande’s “Cowboys and Pit Crews” [a 2011 commencement address on why the medical profession needs to be more collaborative]. How is it being received? Tommy Chang: When I walk schools, I have...
By LA School Report | October 2, 2015
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Morning Read: Brown approves ‘yes means yes’ for high schools

Governor approves ‘yes means yes’ sexual education for high schools Jerry Brown approved legislation making California the first state in the nation to bring lessons about sexual consent required at many colleges into high schools. Associated Press, by Lisa Leff How the Department of Education’s top salaries stack up New York Department of Education’s top...
By LA School Report | October 2, 2015
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LA Unified encouraging students — and parents — to walk to school

Get out of that car and take a hike with your kid. Well, only if it’s no more than a mile. LA Unified plans to join the City of Los Angeles and Department of Transportation in linking up with the national Walk to School Day next Wednesday, Oct. 7, to encourage alternate ways of getting to...
By Mike Szymanski | October 1, 2015
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Broad’s support of Clinton raising concerns within teacher unions

With his massive plan to enroll half of all LA Unified’s students into charter schools, billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad is threatening major disruptions at LA Unified, cementing his role as Public Enemy No. 1 to many district and local union leaders. But Broad’s enduring support for public charter schools now appears to be contributing to...
By Craig Clough | October 1, 2015