LA School Report

Despite the ongoing debate over whether charter schools are better than traditional public schools and the steady increase annually of new charters, the California Charter Schools Association reports a record number of students are on charter school wait lists statewide. In LA Unified, the largest district in the state, an estimated 36,300 students are hoping...

Another day, another win for the parents of Carthay Center Elementary School. After LA Unified removed first-year Principal Crystal Campbell-Shirley over their complaints that she was ill-suited to learn during the school shift to magnet status, they were told today that the seven teachers she declined to rehire for next year would be welcome back....

LA Unified officials are investigating a teacher who has now been removed from John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, over allegations that she mishandled and manipulated record-keeping and stole money from ARC, an after-school educational program that works with public, private and charter schools throughout several area school districts. Parents and students at...

LAUSD quietly disbands Miramonte child-abuse investigative panel The Los Angeles school district has quietly shut down a high-profile special investigative panel intended to review the Miramonte Elementary child-abuse case, citing its cost. The school system had pledged to form the commission in 2012 as a measure of its commitment to protect students after the arrest...

Despite a state budget deadline looming, it’s possible that LA Unified teachers will start yet another school year without a new contract. The district’s proposed spending budget for 2014-15, which must be approved by the school board and submitted to the state by July, includes a line item for teacher raises that remains to be negotiated with...

LA Unified’s summer school programs are getting a massive injection of money this year, to a whopping $29 million from the current $1 million budget. The surge of cash, drawn from a combination of sources, will increase access to classes for struggling students by 600 percent over the previous two years. Altogether, approximately 60,000 students from...

Fourth in a series of profiles of candidates for LA Unified’s open District 1 board seat. *UPDATED While she may be best known for her TV appearances on Celebrity Apprentice, Omarosa Manigault is relying more on her business and technological know-how to persuade voters she’s worthy of serving as the LA Unified District 1 Board...

An LA Unified District 1 resident who failed to meet the initial filing deadline for the district’s open board seat has announced that she is running as a write-in candidate. Marilyn Veincentotzs said on Twitter that she is running under the name “Marilyn V.” Describing herself as “semi-retired,” Viencentotzes spent 20 years as long-term substitute...

As they rallied for the ouster of their school principal this morning, parents at Carthay Center Elementary School were told their efforts had paid off: Crystal Campbell-Shirley was removed from her post. Instructional Director Autri Streeck notified teachers at the school, then met parents at the rally to tell them what happened. “Everyone’s celebrating that...

Via LA Daily News | By Tamar Galatzan, LA Unified’s board member for District 3 It’s budget time again in Los Angeles Unified, a process that for the last five years meant agonizing decisions to cut programs, scale back services and lay off employees because of the crippling financial crisis. This year, thankfully, the board...