To a layman, the raw data from an ongoing mental health survey of LA Unified’s students is shocking, jaw-dropping and head-spinning: 98 percent reported experiencing one or more stressful or traumatic life events in the past 12 months and at least half suffer from moderate to severe symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But also shocking in its...

* UPDATED With the launch of the new Technology Initiative Task Force yesterday, LAUSD is restarting its approach to integrating technology and instruction in the classroom after the last effort ended with an FBI probe. The Common Core Technology Project drew criticism from the start, in part for questions over the procurement process with software publisher...

By Derek Thompson | The Atlantic Each year, the U.S. government tells Americans how much money the country spends on stuff, like houses, cars, and alcohol. Organizing this information by income, Josh Zumbrun at The Wall Street Journal produces this nice chart of spending on food, health care, and other categories. Two clear stories. To the far left: The richest...

A skirmish has broken out between LA Unified board President Richard Vladovic and Lydia Gutierrez, his opponent in the May 19 runoff election for District 7, over the issue of vaccinations for students. In response to Gutierrez’s opposition to a state senate bill that would bar parents from opting out of vaccinations for their children,...

More state aid stabilizes school district finances Recent infusions of state aid, and the prospect of more to come, have improved the financial stability of California’s school districts. Sacramento Bee Santa Ana Unified set to offer ethnic studies classes In December, the LA Unified School District’s board voted to make ethnic studies courses a high...

* UPDATED The brutal civil war in Syria has been raging for more than four years now, and some students at View Park Preparatory Charter High School on Crenshaw Blvd. will experience it like never before when they connect virtually with Syrian refugee youth living at a Save the Children community center in Amman, Jordan. The...

* UPDATED Could a deal between LA Unified and its teachers union, UTLA, be close at hand? The answer is a definite maybe, judging by the accelerated schedule of meetings with the mediator trying to bring the sides together. Two more sessions are scheduled — today and tomorrow.  If that’s a sign of progress leading...

Nearly two-thirds of California voters support legislation requiring schools to integrate breakfast into the school day, according to the latest statewide Field Poll. Four questions on breakfast in the classroom were included in the poll on behalf of California Food Policy Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of low-income Californians by...

By Howard Blume | The Los Angeles Times An advocacy group has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop teachers unions in California from using member dues for political purposes unless individual instructors provide their permission. The effort, if successful, could weaken the influence of these unions by limiting their spending. The lawsuit was filed Friday...