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Hundreds of organizations sign statement backing Common Core
More than 300 California business, nonprofit and children’s groups have signed a statement supporting the Common Core State Standards and staying the course amid the discord over Common Core in other states. EdSource

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Holding even-year L.A. city elections to boost turnout gets second nod
A Citizens commission charged with finding ways to boost Los Angeles’ low voter turnout called Thursday for city elections to move from odd-numbered years to even ones, when higher profile contests like governor or president are on the ballot.  LA Times

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Thousands of LAUSD students expected to receive diplomas this month
School officials estimate 29,242 students will receive their diplomas this year in ceremonies that will conclude by June 25 with the district’s only year-round school, Bell High School. Last year, Los Angeles Unified graduated 27,419 kids on time — increasing its rate by 1.3 percent from 2012. LA Daily News

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First official count of high-needs students under new funding formula is in
After a frenetic effort to count every high-needs student in the California public school system, the first official tally under the sweeping new K-12 finance law is in – and the results are mixed. In three of the five largest school districts, the number of students who stand to benefit from the law is lower than expected.  EdSource

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Attorney: LAUSD Negligence Caused Drowning Of Special Needs Boy
An attorney for the family of a 16-year-old special needs boy said Thursday that negligence at the hands of the LAUSD resulted in the drowning death of the teen. Eric Garcia, a sophomore at Garfield High School, drowned Wednesday on a class trip when he was “left alone and unattended”, according to his lawyer. CBS Local