Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

Funding for L.A. Unified’s iPad program uncertain after three years
A $1-billion plan to put an iPad into the hands of every Los Angeles student and teacher could prove difficult to financially sustain after about three years, based on figures provided by the L.A. Unified School District. The district’s description of funding options emerged during a Board of Education meeting Tuesday at district headquarters. LA Times

---

LAUSD school board signals intent to move forward with iPad plan
After taking a second look at Los Angeles Unified’s controversial iPad project, school board members reiterated their support Tuesday for the plan to equip all 600,000 students with tablet computers while hearing about lessons learned during the first phase of the $1 billion effort to transform kids into “global learners.” LA Daily News

---

Some LA school board members want to reconsider touch-screen devices
At an overdue special meeting on the iPad project Tuesday, some members of the Los Angeles Unified school board began a serious debate over whether the district chose the wrong devices. Board members Monica Ratliff and Steve Zimmer asked the administration to consider using laptops. KPCC

---

Advocates pile on criticisms of draft funding formula regulations
On the eve of a critical public hearing, key supporters of the Local Control Funding Formula are urging the State Board of Education to substantially change draft regulations instructing school districts on how to carry out important parts of the new law. The State Board will hold what’s expected to be a long and heated hearing on the proposals Thursday and then vote on the regulations in January. EdSource

---

Testing flap may impact state request for federal waiver
A California Board of Education request for a time extension to spend about $63 million in School Improvement Grant money could be complicated by the fact that approval must come from the same federal office that has threatened to withhold funds over the state’s plan to suspend student testing next year. SI&A Cabinet Report

---

California transgender students have new law but still face old struggles
When California made history in August by becoming the first state to mandate that elementary and secondary schools allow transgender students to participate in sex-segregated programs and activities and to use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, Erlick went to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office and personally thanked his staff. LA Daily News

---

Study suggests focus on lowest performers hurts high achievers
Education policies heavily focused on raising proficiency levels among America’s lowest-performing students have stalled the academic growth of a large percentage of bright, higher-achieving disadvantaged pupils, according to researchers at the University of Connecticut. SI&A Cabinet Report

---

College promise bypassing Latinos
Latinos are the fastest growing population of the state’s students, but they have the lowest college graduation rates, according to a new report. In California, Latinos lag behind all other ethnic groups in college completion, according to the report: 11 percent of Latino adults have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 39 percent of whites and 23 percent of African Americans. EdSource