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Racial tensions at Markham Middle School reach Congress

The racial tensions at Markham Middle School in Watts have now reached the United States Congress. In a letter to Superintendent John Deasy sent late last week, Congresswoman Janice Hahn writes she was alerted of the conflict between the school administration and parents who feel “that African American students are treated unfairly by being sent...
By Vanessa Romo | May 28, 2014
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LA Unified facing initial $35 million cost for teacher pensions

Just when members of the Los Angeles teachers union, UTLA, thought brighter economic times for California would translate to higher salaries after seven years without a contract, the state threw them a curveball. In recent weeks, Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature have begun debating over how to pay down teacher pension debt, which has...
By Michael Janofsky | May 28, 2014
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Commentary: What I learned in school this year

With this essay, Ellie Herman concludes her year in the classroom — and sharing her observations and insights with LA School Report. This year, I had the remarkable experience of taking the academic year off to visit high schools across the socioeconomic spectrum in L.A. in an attempt to understand better what we mean when...
By Ellie Herman | May 28, 2014
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CORRECTION: Tokofsky joins lobbying firm, remains with AALA

An earlier version of this story said Tokofsky was leaving AALA, the principals union. He is not. David Tokofsky, a former LA Unified school board member and a strategist for the school administrators union, has joined Englander, Knabe & Allen, a lobbying and public relations firm. He is expected to help grow the firm’s...
By LA School Report | May 28, 2014
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VIDEO: End of teacher ‘jail’ policy at LAUSD

Kim Baldonado reports for NBC4 News on a shift in policy at LA Unified (LAUSD) where teachers accused of misconduct will no longer spend days at district offices while awaiting review of allegations.
By LA School Report | May 28, 2014
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LA Unified Honors 22 as district Teachers of the Year

Los Angeles Unified has named 22 educators as a Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014, and they will be honored at an event in September. Here’s the list: Angeles Cajayon, Bryson Avenue Magnet Elementary School, a second-grade teacher there for 12 years. Maricar J. Fortuno Catalán, Dr. Julian Nava Learning Academy – Business and Technology, is...
By LA School Report | May 28, 2014
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By missing deadline, CWC charter sent looking for new home

While officials of Citizens of the World Mar Vista said last week they were blindsided to learn they would not be returning to their shared campus at Stoner Avenue Elementary, LA Unified said today CWC was notified nearly a month earlier that it could remain at the site if the school wanted to stay. It...
By Vanessa Romo | May 27, 2014
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JUST IN: LAUSD offers teachers 2 percent raise, union insulted

LA Unified has opened contract negotiations with the teachers union, UTLA, offering a 2 percent raise for all teachers for the current school year, and another 2 percent increase next year. The union immediately dismissed the offer in a news release, calling it “far short of what educators deserve after seven years without a pay...
By Michael Janofsky | May 27, 2014
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LIVESTREAM: LAUSD school board committee on curriculum

Today the Los Angeles Unified School Board committee on Curriculum Instruction and Assessment meets, chaired by school board member Monica Ratliff. Among other things on the agenda: A-G requirements and Common Core English standards. To catch the meetings live, check out our dedicated LIVESTREAM which brings you the board’s public proceedings as they happen.
By LA School Report | May 27, 2014
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Teachers union approves online voting by overwhelming majority

* UPDATED With an overwhelming majority, members of the Los Angeles teachers union (UTLA) have approved an online voting ballot initiative that will change how the Los Angeles teachers union elects its own leadership. The initiative was launched last year by two teachers who were fed up with the low turnout among the union’s rank and...
By LA School Report | May 27, 2014