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Morning Read: Brown’s K-12 online learning plan rejected

LA School Report | April 23, 2014



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Lawmakers reject Brown’s online learning proposal
A key budget panel on Tuesday rejected Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest plan to revamp the K-12 independent study program and create more opportunities for students to use modern technology as part of their academic day. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance also held off on endorsing Brown’s proposed funding levels for energy-saving school facility projects until tighter revenue estimates come in next month. S&I Cabinet Report


Gubernatorial GOP candidate Kashkari releases education policy overview
Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari on Tuesday proposed scrapping California’s complex education code, sending state money directly to individual schools rather than their districts, and offering state-funded scholarships to certain college students in exchange for a share of their future earnings. He also said he wants to equalize the quality of instruction throughout the state to ensure that poor and minority students receive the best education possible. CBS Los Angeles


Microsoft expands ad-free Bing search for schools
Microsoft is expanding a program that gives schools the ability to prevent ads from appearing in search results when they use its Bing search engine. The program, launched in a pilot program earlier this year, is now available to all U.S. schools, public or private, from kindergarten through the 12th grade. The program is meant to create a safer online environment for children, but also promote use of Bing, which trails market leader Google. Miami Herald


LA school board OKs $25M lawsuit settlement
The Los Angeles Unified School District has agreed to settle a lawsuit over teacher layoffs by spending $25 million to hire more staff for dozens of struggling schools.City News Service says the school board on Tuesday approved the proposal. However, it still needs court approval.The ACLU of Southern California and the Public Counsel Law Center sued the district four years ago, arguing seniority policies meant teacher layoffs hit low-income and inner-city schools hardest because they had the newest teachers. Modesto Bee


CHAMPS in jeopardy over staffer’s $27,000 credit-card misuse
Charter High School of the Arts officials have 10 days to convince Los Angeles Unified they’ve fixed mismanagement that let a former staffer rack up $27,000 in personal expenses on her school charge card and quit without repaying it. LAUSD’s board Tuesday unanimously voted to send Van Nuys-based Charter High School of Arts Multimedia and Performing (CHAMPS) a notice of violation — the legal step could lead to the school’s shutdown. LA Daily News

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