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Federal probe into LA Unified procurement a first, says lawyer
LA Unified’s General Counsel, David Holmquist, told reporters this afternoon that “there’s never been an investigation into a procurement process to my knowledge” involving the district. As a busy day wore on, details began to emerge about the FBI’s interest in the district’s iPad program, the latest episode in a case study of how a...
By Vanessa Romo | December 2, 2014
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Cortines delays iPad program in face of FBI investigation

* UPDATED LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines said today he’s delaying the district’s iPad program in the wake of an investigation into it by the FBI. Agents with the FBI visited the offices of LA Unified headquarters yesterday and seized 20 boxes of documents “having to do with the the procedures for purchasing of iPads...
By Vanessa Romo | December 2, 2014
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Report: Charter enrollment grows significantly in LAUSD, nation

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) issued its annual report today on the growth of charter school enrollment, and the results show another year of significant increases both in LA Unified and across the country. For the 2013-14 school year, charter enrollment in LA Unified jumped 15 percent, giving the district a total...
By Craig Clough | December 2, 2014
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JUST IN: FBI seizes iPad documents from LA Unified offices

Agents with the FBI visited the offices of LA Unified headquarters yesterday and seized files related to the district’s controversial $1.3 billion iPad program, a district spokesman confirmed. The FBI action was first reported by the Los Angeles Times, which said 20 boxes of documents were removed and that the seizure came as a complete...
By Craig Clough | December 2, 2014
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LAUSD students among millions to learn an ‘Hour of Code’

Students at LA Unified will be among millions around the world participating next week in the Hour of Code event, designed to get kids interested in how to build computer codes. After an estimated 15 million students participated last year, the Hour of Code is aiming for 100 million students worldwide to participate during next week’s...
By Craig Clough | December 1, 2014
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LA Unified board returning momentarily into public view

The LA Unified school board, gathering again tomorrow, will appear in open session long enough to hear the introduction of a largely symbolic measure, a resolution to support President Obama’s executive order on immigration. Then, the members will disappear into a closed meeting to review the usual subjects of closed meetings — personnel moves, litigation...
By LA School Report | December 1, 2014
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State School Board group still fighting ‘Rainy Day Fund’ measure

The California School Boards Association is not giving up the fight on Proposition 2, known as the Rainy Day Fund measure. It was passed by voters last month and sets aside bigger budget reserves while paying down more of the state’s debt. But critics say it harms school districts in the process by limiting how much they...
By Vanessa Romo | December 1, 2014
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PBS NewsHour examines LA Unified’s MiSiS crisis

The national television program PBS NewsHour dedicated a segment on Friday to LA Unified’s disastrous MiSiS computer system and the problems it has caused for the district’s students and administrators, as well as asking what lessons other districts in the country might learn from the crisis. The segment features an interview with Los Angeles Times...
By Craig Clough | December 1, 2014
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State says charters can use Prop 39 money from 2012 measure

Via SI&A Cabinet Report | By Kimberly Beltran California charter schools operating out of privately-owned buildings may use the public tax dollars generated by a 2012 ballot measure to make energy-efficient upgrades to those facilities, state officials said late last week. Rules for dispersing the money from Proposition 39 – half of which is dedicated...
By LA School Report | December 1, 2014
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Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!
LA School Report wishes all of our readers a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving. We are taking a few days off and will return to posting on Monday.
By LA School Report | November 25, 2014