Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

Hundreds of LA school libraries without staff, shuttered
Figures out this week show only half of L.A. Unified school libraries have even part-time staff and far fewer have a credentialed librarian. In a district of 768 schools libraries, there are only 98 librarians to teach students how to find information, select a text or coordinate reading programs. Even adding library aides to the mix, 332 school libraries do not have staff. KPCC

---

California Selects Common-Core Math Materials
The California state board of education has adopted 31 of the 35 sets of instructional materials that publishers were hoping would be embraced by the state for teaching K-8 common-core math, according to a release from the state education department. EdWeek

---

Bill pushing back pink slip dates dies again
A controversial bill that would have extended the deadlines for teacher layoff notices failed to win the support of a key Senate committee Wednesday but the issue isn’t likely to be dropped. SI&A Cabinet Report 

---

Democrats Defeat Measure to Protect Teachers and Students
Commentary: Democrats who control the Senate Education Committee voted down a measure today to protect California teachers and save valuable school resources. SB 559, which I authored, would have moved the state mandated deadlines for preliminary and final teacher layoff notices so that school districts can better understand their budget revenues before sending notices to teachers. Fox and Hounds Daily

---

Should Mayor de Blasio Unravel Bloomberg’s Reforms?
Commentary: Last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio named Carmen Fariña schools chancellor. The appointment of this 40-year veteran of the New York City school system signals a “sharp departure from the education policies” of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who focused on test scores, closed low-performing schools and brought in charters. Is she what the city needs? New York Times