The search team hired to find a new LA Unified superintendent is already receiving applications and is putting together a list of potential candidates, while arranging to canvass school board members and the community for what they want in the new district boss. Hank Gmitro, president of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates based in Rosemont,...

By Joy Resmovits Students who have experienced trauma could be eligible for some of the same protections as students with disabilities based on the effects of that trauma, according to a ruling by a federal judge Tuesday. But the degrees, types and effects of trauma that would trigger such protections have yet to be determined. The...

Suit to limit use of teacher union dues for political purposes is tossed The teachers involved were fighting for the right to belong to their union without their dues being used against their will for political causes. LA Times, by Howard Blume Comprehensive sex ed bill among those facing Brown The bill would make instruction...

In building a case for creating 260 charter schools within in LA Unified eight years at a cost of $490 million, the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has cited “significant” gains by three charter organizations that have received $75 million from the foundation. But when all factors are considered, there is little conclusive evidence in the report...

In a new survey of 1,000 California teachers, a plurality of instructors thinks that it’s most important to develop critical thinking skills as preparation for college and career. The least number ranked scoring well on the state’s new Smarter Balanced tests. EdSource and the California Teachers Association conducted the online survey and released the results...

In a district striving to infuse computer technology in public education, LA Unified is struggling to complete a phone survey asking five questions. About 550,000 phone calls went out from Sept. 25 through yesterday to ask families about their priorities for the school calendar for the next three years. By late yesterday, another phone call...

By Emma Brown U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Wednesday plans to appeal to the nation’s states and cities to dramatically reduce incarceration for nonviolent crimes, and he is proposing to use the estimated $15 billion in savings to substantially raise teacher pay in high-poverty schools. Duncan argues that such a move would help persuade...

Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa endorses charter expansion effort “I would support any effort to expand high-quality education,” Villaraigosa said. “So I could certainly support that.” Los Angeles Times, by Howard Blume California denied renewal of federal funding for charter schools This will be the first time California, the state with the largest number of...

Two dozen LAUSD adult students will share $10,200 in scholarship money for  aircraft mechanics classes operated by the district’s Disvision of Adult and Career Education. Clay Lacy Aviation is offering the scholarship money based on the students’ higher education goals, academic achievements and community involvement at the Aviation Center (AV-Center) at Van Nuys Airport, which is part of...

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized 335 schools today as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015, and included on the list is one from LA Unified, the independent charter Kipp Raíces Academy School. Kipp is one of 33 schools from California to receive the honor, which recognizes both public and private elementary, middle, and high schools in...