LA School Report

We’ve all seen this in person or on TV: One lawyer says something provocative or inappropriate, and the opposing lawyer leaps to his feet, saying “Objection, your honor.” “Sustained,” says the judge. “The jury will disregard that last remark.” After yesterday, we’re now all in the jury box, trying to figure out what to make...

Charter school group is political force in L.A. Unified board election California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, a political action committee, has put its muscle into a race it considers crucial. Los Angeles Times After recession cuts, LAUSD reconnects with community art groups Los Angeles Unified’s arts education leaders took steps to renew long-dormant community partnerships...

Old accusations of sexual misconduct by LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines resurfaced today in a new lawsuit that includes explosive new assertions sure to cause anger, embarrassment and disruptions at district headquarters. Scot Graham, who was hired by Cortines in 2000 to be the district’s Director of Real Estate, renewed his charges that Cortines, 82, made unwanted...

School board District 7, runs up a narrow swath from San Pedro at its southern tip to South LA as its northern boundary (see map here). On the way, it encompasses parts of Wilmington, Harbor City, Carson, Harbor Gateway, Lomita, Gardena, Florence, and Watts, and is home to some of LA Unified’s historically troubled high...

By KCRW’s “Which Way L.A.?” There won’t be an iPad for everyone after all, and School Board incumbents running for re-election are being asked to explain a massive debacle. But, in this economy, digital education is mandatory to take proficiency tests, apply for college admission—or qualify for a lot of blue-collar employment. Can LA Unified...

L.A. schools could lose $782 million under federal bill Republican-led effort to revise a federal education law could slash $782 million for disadvantaged students in Los Angeles Unified over six years. Los Angeles Times Jeff Bridges encourages eating breakfast at local schools Elementary School students in Winnetka got a visit from Academy Award-winner Jeff Bridges....

One of Tamar Galatzan’s challengers in the LA Unified District 3 board race said today he has filed a complaint against her with the City Ethics Commission, charging that she improperly used her board office as part of her campaign. Filiberto Gonzalez, a former Los Angeles City planning commissioner, cited two specific instances: the use of...

LA Unified’s school board District 5, runs a tortured, ear-muff-shaped path from Los Feliz in the north, following a narrow band south, and expanding in the south to Lynwood. Along the way it reaches parts of Echo Park, Vernon, Maywood, Huntington Park, Bell and South Gate. With an Hispanic population of 74 percent, District 5...

By The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board The idea of equipping every Los Angeles Unified student and teacher with a computer suffered its final blow with the announcement last week that the school district simply couldn’t afford to buy some 700,000 of them. If ever a proposal was half-baked, it was the iPad project, which...

Commentary: NCLB and testing help hold schools accountable Even if the NCLB bathwater needs changing, our kids are not likely to learn more if schools and teachers are not held accountable. Los Angeles Times New online training aims to ferret out child abuse cases Public school employees can take their required annual training to spot...