LA School Report

The final list of declared candidates for LAUSD school board is in, and the campaigns for Districts 2, 4, and 6 — three spots currently held by those with ties to Superintendent Deasy and his “reform” agenda — will likely eclipse 2011’s races in terms of spending and nastiness. But who are the key challengers...

On Friday, the first hearing was held in Vergara v. California, a case that seeks to strike down five laws that could — for better or worse — end up being the most revolutionary education lawsuit in the history of California.  “What plaintiffs are asking for is far beyond scope of what the courts have...

Not taking any chances with tomorrow’s Board meeting, the advocacy arm of the California Charter Schools Association has been airing a radio ad blasting Steve Zimmer for his proposals to strengthen oversight for charter schools. Airing on KNX, KFI and KOST, the ad highlights the waiting lists for charters and decries Zimmer’s proposal for creating...

Don’t bother pitching KPCC’s Tami Abdollah your education stories much longer — the KPCCer is soon leaving the station and the beat for a gig with AP covering crime.  (See KPCC Education Reporter Shifting to AP Law Enforcement Beat Fishbowl LA.) She came onto the education beat just about a year ago, joining Adolfo Guzman-Lopez and has produced...

Candidates File Papers to Run For L.A. School Board The March election could change the course of a new teacher evaluation system, the union’s dealings with charters and, possibly, the future of Supt. John Deasy. LA Times Mother of Twins, Lawyer and Activist Goes After Anti-Charter Zimmer Kate Anderson, an activist mom and successful attorney...

There were 28 state legislative contests pitting two Democrats against each other this year, according to this October 17 LA Times article. But the still-unresolved contest between incumbent Betsy Butler and challenger Richard Bloom for California State Assembly District 50 may be one of the only situations in which the state Democratic Party not only endorsed the incumbent Democrat but also...

Also on the Board agenda for Tuesday, November 13 will be LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy’s proposal to restore the district’s full 180-day academic calendar and repeal all scheduled staff furlough days. Deasy’s just-announced proposal is motivated by the November 6 passage of Prop. 30, whose approval means that LAUSD doesn’t have to cut $255 million...

Today’s deadline for LAUSD teachers to nominate themselves for UTLA’s House of Representatives raises two key questions: The immediate question is will there be enough nominees to require an actual election. In the last few cycles, the numbers have been so few that self-nomination was tantamount to election. The underlying question is whether the House of...

Following up on a comment made at the September Board meeting, LAUSD Board Member Bennett Kayser plans on introducing a resolution at Tuesday’s upcoming board meeting that would force board members to “automatically recuse themselves from voting on a charter contract if they have received campaign contributions six months prior to the vote.” Also on...

Lawsuit Against Teacher Tenure Poised to Move Forward A lawsuit to overturn teacher tenure laws and seniority rights remained on track Thursday when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling allowing the litigation to move forward. LA Times [read full text here] Local Votes of Confidence: Most Bonds, Parcel Taxes Pass Proposition 30,...