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Outside Groups Trying to Influence L.A. School Board Races
Outside groups are mounting campaigns to influence the outcome of three races for seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education. LA Times
See also: LA School Report

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L.A. Schools Need Technology, but Can We Afford It?
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles School Board will consider a Common Core Technology Project Plan. If approved, the plan would initially fund computing devices for 30,000 students at 47 schools for $50 million, beginning in 2013. LA Daily News Op-Ed by LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan

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Districts to Seek NCLB Waiver Whether or Not They’re Invited
Rather than taking a position on the legality of district waivers, Duncan said his biggest concern is capacity. With 15,000 school districts that could potentially apply, it would be unmanageable. EdSource

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LAUSD Petitions for Sweeping Relief From Class Size Requirements
The Los Angeles Unified School District is set to bring applications forward next month seeking relief for 78 school sites from class-size restrictions required under a special state funding program. SI&A Cabinet Report

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Granada Hills Charter Wins LAUSD’s Academic Decathlon
Granada Hills Charter High clinched the top spot in Los Angeles Unified’s Academic Decathlon for the third straight year, raising hopes for a three-peat by the school at this year’s state and national contests. LA Daily News
See also: LA Times

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L.A. Teachers Union Wins Grant for School-Reform Model
The union representing Los Angeles teachers has won a grant to help instructors play a prominent leadership role in their schools. LA Times
See also: LA School Report, LA Daily News

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We Can Do More to Protect Children
Too often, the needs of adults and institutions come before those of youngsters they are supposed to safeguard. That could change if we all took it more personally. LA Times Opinion

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Valentine’s Day Lesson Plans Aren’t Just for Teachers
The Texas-based teacher social network We Are Teachers has some Valentine’s Day classroom lesson plans that aren’t just for teachers. KPCC

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Teachers Press Obama to Keep Promises as Spending Cuts Loom
The largest teachers union in the United States is telling President Barack Obama not to back down from promises he made in his January inauguration speech as the country prepares to begin a decade of billions of dollars in federal spending cuts. Reuters

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Brown’s School Finance Reform Has the Right Intent but Major Flaws
Fresh on the heels of having saved – at least for now – California’s public education system through passage of his Proposition 30, Governor Jerry Brown is rededicating himself to the task of tearing down and redesigning the twisted maze that currently serves as the K-12 funding system. EdSource Opinion

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