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Obama to report widening of initiative for black and Latino boys
President Obama will announce on Monday that 60 of the nation’s largest school districts are joining his initiative to improve the educational futures of young African-American and Hispanic boys, beginning in preschool and extending through high school graduation. NY Times

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Beyond the factory model
A foundation-funded experiment is testing whether “blended learning” can personalize instruction in eight Oakland schools. Blended learning combines brick-and-mortar schooling with online education “with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace” of learning. Education Next

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New superintendent contract gives a reward for incompetence
Editorial: When José L. Banda takes over as superintendent for the Sacramento City Unified School District on Aug. 1, he will earn an annual salary of $290,000 – a $20,000-a-year raise from his current post running the larger Seattle Public Schools. Sac Bee

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Teachers union leader raises strike possibility
The newly elected chief of Los Angeles Unified School District’s teachers union has told members a strike is viable option as the union continues its battle for a 17.6 percent pay raise. LA Register

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Charter schools: Audit finds missing, misused funds at LA network
The Los Angeles Unified school district is investigating a network of eight charter schools for misuse of public school funds. An audit showed Magnolia Public Schools used classroom cash to help six non-employees with immigration costs. KPCC