-
Public School Art is Back — On Buses and Billboards, Anyway
LA has a new look – if you look carefully. The final installment of Los Angeles Fund for Public Education’s #ArtsMatter public art project got underway yesterday with bus wraps and hundreds of billboards promoting the importance of creative thinking in education. The artist Shepard Fairey – think “Hope” with a picture of President Obama...
By LA School Report | July 24, 2013
-
Parents and Teachers Plan Rally to Save Special Education Centers
A group of parents and teachers plans to picket the office of school board member Tamar Galatzan on Wednesday to protest LA Unified’s compliance with federal and state laws to move special needs students into general education settings. The group, Parents and Teachers United for Action, says that by moving special education students from centers...
By Brianna Sacks | July 23, 2013
-
Garcetti Makes First Education Appointment (updated)
Mayor Eric Garcetti has appointed Abigail Marquez as “the associate director of education and workforce,” his first education-related appointment. Marquez, an enthusiastic supporter and fundraiser for Garcetti during his recent election, formerly served as East Area director (a sort of community liaison) for Garcetti’s predecessor, Antonio Villaraigosa. She is also on the board of Legacy...
By Hillel Aron | July 23, 2013
-
Weingarten: Bad Teachers Need Another Profession
Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, delivered a hard-charging speech at the union’s convention in Washington on Monday (transcript here), asserting that ineffective teachers should find another line of work. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ot8rjKmBfk&w=400&h=225] “If someone can’t teach after they’ve been prepared and supported, they shouldn’t be in our profession,” she said, winning loud applause from more...
By LA School Report | July 23, 2013
-
Final Decision Close on CORE’s ‘No Child’ Waiver Request
After days of intense discussions with U.S. Department of Education officials last week, representatives from nine California school districts, a coalition known as CORE, now say they will know by early August if their waiver request will be granted. An updated application will be presented on Wednesday, reflecting changes outlined by discussions in Washington last...
By Brianna Sacks | July 22, 2013
-
Deciphering the Kayser Letter (updated)
Reporters were left scrambling late Friday afternoon when they received copies of a letter sent by School Board member Bennett Kayser to Superintendent John Deasy, asking Deasy to develop a “succession plan” for the superintendent and other senior staff. The letter was littered with typos: The date at the top read “7/19/23.” The word “therefore”...
By Hillel Aron | July 22, 2013
-
Sex, Lies and Teacher Dismissal: Let the Voting Begin
By: Ashunda Norris Heading into the final day before a special election for the east valley City Council seat, teacher dismissal has emerged as a central issue between Cindy Montanez and Nury Martinez. Responding to accusations that she protected predatory teachers while serving as a school board member, Martinez fought back over the weekend, saying...
By Guest contributor | July 22, 2013
-
Is Kayser Pushing Deasy Out the Door?
School Board member Bennett Kayer is asking Superintendent John Deasy, to draw up a “succession plan” for the superintendent and his senior staff. “As the District mandates that every school have an emergency plan, so must our leadership and its structure,” Kayer says in a letter addressed to Deasy, a copy of which was obtained...
By Hillel Aron | July 19, 2013
-
Teachers Unions Oppose NCLB Waiver That the ‘CA 9’ Want
The California Office to Reform Education, a group of nine California school districts, including LAUSD, met with federal officials this week to make a last pitch for a No Child Left Behind waiver, which would exempt those districts from meeting certain requirements. One little wrinkle though: last Friday, a group of nine teachers unions, including California Teachers...
By Hillel Aron | July 19, 2013
-
Monica Ratliff Does “Which Way LA?”
Newly elected School Board member Monica Ratliff sat down with Warren Olney yesterday on KCRW’s Which Way, LA?. You can listen below, the interview starts at around the 8:45 mark: Some highlights: On why she voted for Dr. Richard Vladovic for School Board President: “The two nominees were Tamar [Galatzan] and Richard. And I asked...
By Hillel Aron | July 19, 2013