Morning Read: Gov. Brown Awaits Bill to Delay Testing
LA School Report | September 12, 2013
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State Assembly defies feds, sends school testing overhaul to governor
The California Assembly on Wednesday easily approved an overhaul of the state’s student testing system in which schools and parents would not receive test scores for at least a year. The vote of 51 to 22 was largely along party lines, with Democrats overwhelmingly in favor. The state Senate had passed the bill Tuesday. LA Times
Arne Duncan unsuccessful in 11th-hour effort to block state legislation
Veteran education watchers in California could not recall a presidential cabinet officer ever attempting to block state legislation and certainly not in the heavy handed way U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan attempted to do on Monday night. In an extraordinary move, Duncan issued an after-hours statement in an effort to head off a vote by the California Legislature the next day on Assembly Bill 484. EdSource
LAUSD improving its investigations of teacher misconduct
Los Angeles Unified expects to have a team of full-time professional investigators in place by December as it implements a streamlined process for dealing with teachers accused of sexual misconduct, officials say. The investigative panel is just one component of a plan that has been in the works since April. Daily News
LAUSD head Deasy looking to hire seven administrators, each for $100K
LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy wants to hire seven experienced “administrative liaisons” for more than $100,000 each per year to be a link between his office and the new advisory committees created by school board President Richard Vladovic. The liaisons “will be instrumental in leading the review of topics which will allow the Board to be better informed and render decisions,” said the job description. Daily News
LAUSD board OK’s application for $30M federal grant
Los Angeles Unified is finalizing its application for a $30 million Race to the Top grant after last year’s effort for a $40 million award was rejected by federal officials because the teachers union refused to endorse it. Daily News
L.A. School Board Approves Parent-Trigger Guidance
For the first time since California’s controversial parent-trigger law was passed in two years ago, Los Angeles parents and staff now have guidelines from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s board to help them navigate the complex process. EdWeek
What does ‘quality teacher’ mean anyway?
Editorial: Go to YouTube and type in “Harriett Ball.” You’ll find three or four short clips on this wonderful Houston teacher, including a tribute (she died in 2011) from KIPP charter school founders Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin. Washington Post