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Brutal attack brings focus on Chinese ‘parachute kids’

By Cindy Chang and Frank Shyong It started as an ordinary spat among high school girls, sparked by an unpaid restaurant bill. At an ice cream parlor in Rowland Heights, the dispute took a dark turn. Three girls ganged up on Yiran “Camellia” Liu, forcing her to kneel and use her hands to wipe cigarette...
By LA School Report | July 2, 2015
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Morning Read: High school exit exam may be exiting quickly

High school exit exam may be suspended immediately The California High School Exit Exam may be suspended immediately, possibly letting off the hook thousands of seniors who need to pass it to graduate. Ed Source Beverly Hills Unified will pay $685,000 to settle ex-principal’s suit The settlement resolves a lawsuit by Carter Paysinger in which...
By LA School Report | July 2, 2015
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Zimmer wins unanimous approval to serve as LAUSD board leader

One week after it appeared Richard Vladovic was destined to serve as president of the LA Unified board for a third consecutive term, the members unanimously today elected Steve Zimmer as its new leader, giving the district its most teacher union friendly president in more than a decade. Zimmer, who began his career with the district...
By Vanessa Romo | July 1, 2015
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Vowing unity, new LA Unified board members sworn into office

Two new LA Unified board members and two former board members took their oath of office today during a ceremony in which they vowed to bring unity and collaboration to the district and with each other. For each member, it was the start of a five-and-a-half year term, following a change in the city’s voting...
By Mike Szymanski | July 1, 2015
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Lawsuit: LAUSD depriving high-needs students of $2 billion

* UPDATED A lawsuit filed today accuses the LA Unified school district of planning to deprive low-income, foster youth and English language learners of $2 billion in funds that should be directed to their education. The lawsuit, filed by ACLU SoCal, Public Advocates and Covington & Burling LLP on behalf of Community Coalition South Los...
By Craig Clough | July 1, 2015
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JUST IN: LA Unified board votes in Zimmer as new president

LA Unified board member Steve Zimmer was unanimously elected today to become the new board president, giving the board its strongest pro-teacher president in more than a decade. Zimmer, vice president for the last two years, succeeds Richard Vladovic, who served as president since 2013. The vote played out without a motion from any other board...
By LA School Report | July 1, 2015
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Commentary: Keep tests, add resource equity in new ed law

By Chris Hofmann As a fourth grade teacher in East Los Angeles, I know firsthand that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and its Title I provisions aren’t just extra federal dollars. They are those extra “Weird School” books in my classroom library that got Ricky* excited to read. They are the laptops and...
By Guest contributor | July 1, 2015
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Fishburn parents and teachers succeed in ousting principal

Parents and teachers have succeeded in ousting a principal and assistant principal from Fishburn Avenue Elementary School in Maywood. “We heard exciting news that the district is going to transfer both the principal and assistant principal,” said Alfonso Flores, an educational consultant and founder of Excellent Educational Solutions. “This is the best possible outcome and...
By Mike Szymanski | July 1, 2015
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California Teacher of the Year says stress a top problem for kids

By Sarah Tulley When the nation’s top teachers were asked about the biggest barriers to students’ success, most didn’t point to reasons inside the classroom. Instead, they ranked family stress and poverty as the main issues facing students. The Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic Inc. sent surveys to the 56 winners of Teacher of...
By LA School Report | July 1, 2015
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Morning Read: Gov. Brown signs strict student vaccine law

California mandates vaccines for schoolchildren California on Tuesday became the largest state in the country to require schoolchildren to receive vaccinations. New York Times California’s new vaccine law: Questions and answers Here are some questions and answers about the controversial vaccine law that Gov. Jerry Brown signed on Tuesday. San Jose Mercury News Labor fears...
By LA School Report | July 1, 2015