LA School Report

The Los Angeles teachers union, UTLA, has moved one step closer to endorsing Scott Schmerelson, a former LA Unified principal, administrator and a Republican, in the runoff race for Board District 3. Members of the teachers union political action committee, PACE, are recommending to the full committee an endorsement for Schmerelson in his bid to...

The LA Unified school board decided to start school one week later for the 2015-16 academic year in a compromise that board member Tamar Galatzan — who voted in favor it — summed up as “the worst of both worlds.” The 5-1 vote means students will begin classes on Aug. 18 next academic year. The...

By Misti Kemmer I grew up around drugs and alcohol.  At nine years old, I manned the kegs at weekend barbecues for my aunts and uncles where I was surrounded by a cloud of marijuana smoke.  But even at that early age, I knew that I wanted something more.  I was determined to be the...

The LA Unified school board voted unanimously yesterday to approve a “Fiscal Stabilization Plan” that calls for cuts, layoffs and smarter spending decisions to balance the 2015-2016 budget by June 30. In a separate vote, the board agreed, 5-2, to issue more than 600 teacher layoff notices for the first time in two years. Despite massive...

CA vs. feds on student testing back in play State officials acknowledged Tuesday sidetracking a request to be excused from federal accountability mandates. SI&A Cabinet Report For parents, a new way to view test scores The vocabulary has changed, and so have the numbers and the format for state testing. Ed Source Proposal to reopen...

Superintendent Ramon Cortines told the LA Unified board today that he believes the state will delay using statewide computerized test results for any official measures. “The word on the street is that they’re looking favorably that this year’s test will not count,” he said during a discussion of the the district’s use of computers for...

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson called today an “exciting day” as students around the state began taking the new online, Common Core aligned Smarter Balanced test. Torlakson kicked off new testing era for the state expressing enthusiasm and confidence in the new testing system, which he called an “academic checkup.” Fifty-eight thousand students were...

LA Unified is appealing a decision that threw out its lawsuits against three major banks it had accused of racially biased mortgage lending, according to Reuters. The district argues that the lending practices led to foreclosures in the Los Angeles area and a reduction in tax revenue for the district. Last month, U.S. District Judge Otis...

The LA Unified school board is scheduled to meet today at 1 p.m. Among the agenda items of interest is discussion about potential layoffs as the district looks to balance a budget deficit of $160 million for next year. Also on the agenda is discussion about upgrades to some rundown schools and a number of charter school...