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Brown considers new restrictions on LCFF money

The Brown administration appears to be still struggling with how much flexibility to give schools with spending new state funds aimed at the educationally disadvantaged. Documents released Wednesday by consultants working with the California State Board of Education on regulations governing the Local Control Funding Formula include language that would require districts to demonstrate the new money is going to increase or improve services to low-income students, English learners and foster youth. Depending on how the final regulations are drafted, the proposed change could impose significant restrictions on LCFF money. SI&A Cabinet Report

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Troubled teacher’s LA background was Nevada’s for the asking

Melvyn Sprowson’s history of alleged student sex abuse in Los Angeles was an open book for any prospective employer, but Clark County school officials chose not to read it, LA’s school chief said Wednesday. The Las Vegas kindergarten teacher charged with kidnapping a 16-year-old girl got his job at Wengert Elementary School three months after resigning under pressure from the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he faced a slew of accusations involving student sexual abuse. Las Vegas Review-Journal

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Ballot measure filed to speed up dismissals of teachers charged with abuse

After bills to streamline the dismissal process for abusive teachers failed two years in a row, a Sacramento-based nonprofit wants to put the issue to voters. The advocacy organization EdVoice has submitted a proposed ballot measure with the arresting title “Stop Child Molesters, Sexual Abusers and Drug Dealers From Working In California Schools Act” to the attorney general for review. EdVoice intends to gather signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot. EdSource

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LAPD teaches ‘Seconds Count’ in school shooting scenario

With the one-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy looming, the LAPD trained local educators Thursday on how to respond to an active shooter on campus. During the daylong “Seconds Count” drill at New Community Jewish High in West Hills, about 50 private-school principals and leaders from Los Angeles’ Jewish community learned methods for anticipating and preventing a crisis and training their staffs to respond should one occur. The “Seconds Count” exercise included a simulated classroom lockdown, part of the hide-run-fight strategy the LAPD recommends. LA Daily News

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Teacher retirements held steady during recession

Expectations that an improving economy might provoke a mass exodus of retirement-age teachers throughout California appear to be unfounded, according to new research released Thursday. Although the deep, six-year recession no doubt caused many veteran educators to delay retirement, a report from the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning at WestEd found the number of teachers between the ages of 50 and 62 dropped by more than 10,000 between 2006 and 2012 while the number of teachers over 63 increased by only about 3,500. SI&A Cabinet Report