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LA schools’ drop in arts teachers dragged down county numbers
The Los Angeles Unified School District has lost about 200 full-time arts teacher positions since the 2010-2011 school year, according to the most recent data available from the California Department of Education, suggesting the district is responsible for more than half of the loss cited in a new report last week. KPCC

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Centinela Valley schools chief amassed $663,000 in compensation in 2013
The superintendent of the Centinela Valley high school district negotiated a contract so loaded with out-of-the-ordinary perks that he managed to amass more than $663,000 in total compensation last year. Documents obtained by the Daily Breeze from the Los Angeles County Office of Education show that although Jose Fernandez had a base pay of $271,000 in the 2013 calendar year, his other benefits amounted to nearly $400,000. Daily Breeze

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L.A. Unified students pitch in to help the homeless
The sun was shining and the ice cream was melting so Rene Cerritos didn’t waste any time. “Chocolate! Chocolate ice cream just for you!” the 18-year-old hollered. “Who wants some?” On Saturday, the high school senior joined 300 students from 36 high schools in a district-wide volunteer day aimed at helping the homeless. Children were bused in to help at six shelters, from Pacoima to Bell to downtown LA. LA Times

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John Marshall High wins round of Academic Decathlon
The school motto Veritas Vincit translates as “truth conquers” and in the case of John Marshall High School, so do wits. The Los Angeles Unified School District named the nine-member team this year’s winner of its annual Academic Decathlon on Friday at an awards ceremony at Hollywood High School. LA Times

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Preparing California’s teachers: Is UC doing its part?
Commentary: California’s 1960 Master Plan famously carved out specific niches for each of the three public higher education segments. The Master Plan was very clear about which colleges should be responsible for what, and many people assume that the dominance of the less-selective CSU system in the field of teacher education is by design. But it ain’t so. Huffington Post

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Oakland middle school’s 9-hour school day is model program
On a recent Thursday afternoon in Ashur Bratt’s class in Oakland, about 20 middle school students stood tall on chairs and tables and flung their arms out from their sides, looking very pleased with themselves. “How do you feel?” Bratt asked as students raised their arms, competing to be called on. “Ecstatic!” one boy answered. EdSource