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Ex-LAUSD official denies steering contract to former employer
The former Los Angeles schools official under scrutiny for his role in the district’s $1.3-billion iPad program defended himself Thursday, saying that he did not improperly steer the contract to a company that once employed him. LA Times

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LA schools iPads: Bid committee got free tablets, resort trips
Los Angeles Unified officials who evaluated bids for its massive technology project received iPads from Pearson, met with a Pearson software executive and attended a weekend sales pitch for that software — all ahead of the public bid process, documents show. KPCC

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Judge sets up battle over teacher protections
A Los Angeles judge on Thursday affirmed a tentative June ruling that struck down five laws governing job protections for teachers in California. Politico

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Single word at heart of regulatory debate
The State Board of Education next week will consider and possibly settle a debate over one word in the proposed final regulations for the Local Control Funding Formula. Edsource

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Last-minute effort to enhance early learning educators
As part of a larger effort to give more of the state’s youngest residents a strong start in school, lawmakers want to offer up to $25 million toward training preschool and early-kindergarten teachers to better meet their needs. S&I Cabinet Report