LA School Report

Study: State should increase, overhaul school construction bonds “California must bolster – not recede from – its role in the state-local funding partnership for K-12 school facilities,” concluded the paper. EdSource, by John Fensterwald Rethinking ‘ultra-safe’ playgrounds Playgrounds have drastically changed over the years. Most no longer offer the same sensory and motor challenges as...

The Soulsville neighborhood in Memphis, Tenn. has the unpleasant distinction of being the 12th most dangerous in the country. Local residents have a one-in-nine chance of becoming a crime victim there within a year. The Soulsville Charter School is located on College Street, and the joke is that the street name is as close as most...

Several members of the LA Unified board are using their websites to reflect on what they’re thankful for with the long Thanksgiving weekend just ahead. Board President Steve Zimmer focused on education in his newsletter. He writes: “The recent attacks on liberty and peace in Paris, Mali, and across the Middle East shake our hearts and our spirit. Here at home, the...

As LA Unified deals with looming deficits that could reach $600 million, a recent independent Financial Report attributes a large share of it to the ever-increasing costs of health benefits for present and retired employees. The district spends 14 percent of its budget on active and retired employee health benefits — which is more than it...

By Daniela Gerson Priscilla Farinas, an English teacher at Social Justice Humanitas Academy in San Fernando, faced her 31 students recently and made an announcement that seemingly violates official Los Angeles Unified policy. “This is the one and only time I will have you take out your cellphones,” she said, instructing the students to share their definitions of...

A group of anti-charter school activists is circulating an online petition that calls for LA Unified to rescind a contract with Teach for America (TFA) intended to fill 25 special education teaching positions. The petition points out that the teachers from the organization will be trainees but does not acknowledge that the district is allowed by...

LAUSD is making another strong push for input from families and employees to see what the school schedule should be for the next three years. And, the district is providing lots of back-up materials to help inform choices, including a comparison of student test scores in traditional school years versus early school calendars, electricity consumption costs for the...

LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said late yesterday the district’s facilities staff plans to monitor methane gas levels near two schools in northern San Fernando Valley. Cortines said he will post the results of the air quality report right away on the LAUSD website. Concerns about a smell in the Porter Ranch neighborhood led to a protest that...