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Obama alums join anti teachers union case
Teachers unions are girding for a tough fight to defend tenure laws against a coming blitz of lawsuits — and an all-out public relations campaign led by former aides to President Barack Obama. The Incite Agency, founded by former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and former Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt, will lead a national public relations drive to support a series of lawsuits aimed at challenging tenure. Politico

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Dust off those shelves: 200 library aides head back to LA schools
The Los Angeles Unified school district is spending $6 million next school year to bring back 192 libraries aides, opening shuttered libraries across the region. With the help of $332 million more coming from recovering state coffers next school year, the board and Superintendent John Deasy budgeted for 15 new librarians and 192 library aides. KPCC

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Demand for sexual abuse awareness in schools growing
Between 2011 and this year, 18 more states have enacted statutes modeled after Erin’s Law, and 19 others are considering it, including California, where legislators this week sent a bill to the Senate for a final vote. According to national statistics, one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually molested before they turn 18. S&I Cabinet Report

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Bill making it easier to fire teachers only a first step: Breaking View
Opinion: Gov. Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 215, making it easier for school districts to fire teachers accused of “egregious misconduct.” The bill, a needed reform that protects students and improves their access to a quality education, is a step toward making sure only the best teachers move to the head of the state’s K-12 classrooms. More must be done, however. LA Daily News

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Poll finds Common Core opposition rising
The poll indicated that some of the doubts and skepticism about the Common Core State Standards that have gained sway in other states are taking hold in California, too. As opposed to many states, in California the new standards in English language arts and math have the full support of the majority of the Legislature, the governor, the State Board of Education and organizations representing teachers unions, school boards and the state PTA. EdSource