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Morning Read: Reading scores climb, but gap remains

LA School Report | May 20, 2014



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As reading scores climb overall, gap persists
Despite higher reading scores in classrooms across the nation, the achievement gap between white, black and Hispanic youth has seen very little improvement according to a report released last week by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that monitors how children and teens use media. S&I Cabinet Report


GOP-backed plan would let LAUSD to opt out of healthy lunches
House Republicans are proposing to let some schools opt out of healthier school lunch and breakfast programs if they are losing money. A GOP spending bill for agriculture and food programs released Monday would allow schools to apply for waivers if they are losing money on school lunch programs for six months in a row. CBS Local


Low-performing Inglewood, Compton schools try arts-based revamp
Called Turnaround Arts, the program infuses arts education access into struggling schools by providing musical instruments, art supplies, professional development for teachers and help from arts organizations. Warren Lane Elementary in Inglewood and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary in Compton are among ten of California’s lowest-performing schools set to join a novel effort to use the arts to improve academic performance. KPCC


To combat truancy, California should follow Compton’s lead
Commentary: How to improve California’s education system is a challenge that has long divided state and local elected officials, education advocates, teachers and parents. One thing is certain, however: No solution to our schools’ problems will make an ounce of difference if students are out on the street or at home when they should be in class. Any attempt to turn around our troubled public school system must address the truancy problem. LA Times


English Learner services in public schools: How well are they working?
Commentary: California created the English Learner label because without specialized teaching in the basics, students wouldn’t understand what’s going on in the classroom. But many other English Learner students were born and raised in the U.S. They need some academic language instruction as well as motivation skills. KPCC

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