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L.A. school officials barred from access to curriculum for iPads
Los Angeles school officials have failed for now in their efforts to get full access to a digital curriculum that the school system purchased in June. The curriculum, developed by Pearson for use on district iPads, is off-limits because Pearson is likely to bid on a separate contract with the L.A. Unified School District, and district rules limit contact between a bidder and the district. LA Times
CORE districts’ tackling of tough issues impresses federal official
A high-ranking federal education official – a woman with Secretary Arne Duncan’s ear – said she liked what she heard at the first meeting of the committee overseeing eight California districts that have received the nation’s only district waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law. EdSource
Fourth Street Early Education Center formally opens
Los Angeles Unified School District school board member Mónica García Tuesday joined elected officials, parents, guardians, teachers, students, community members and special guests to cut the ribbon on the new Fourth Street Early Education Center here. The center actually opened last July, but formal ceremonies weren’t held until Tuesday. LA Wave
With affordable housing, learning can start at home
Commentary: Given that housing prices and rents in California far exceed what is affordable to the average working family, a disproportionate number of California families experience housing instability. Housing instability hits children particularly hard, and can significantly affect their ability to engage at school or even their ability to attend school regularly. EdSource
Quality education is a civil rights issue
Commentary: In education policy circles, the issue of teacher quality – particularly how and whether to take teacher effectiveness into account when making employment decisions — is fiercely contested and politically charged. Efforts to change teacher employment protections to prioritize students’ needs have been thwarted repeatedly by teachers’ unions and other opponents. U-T San Diego