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Morning Read: Most CA schools free of computer testing problems

Most schools solve web issues for computer testing Of the state’s more than 11,000 public schools, fewer than 21 of them will be taking the Common Core assessments this spring on pencil and paper. SI&A Cabinet Report State likely to support existing lunch standards California’s enthusiasm for healthy school lunches appears unlikely to change under...
By Craig Clough | December 16, 2014
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Snag in suit of ex-LAUSD official who criticized Miramonte payout

A judge ruled today that a former LA Unified official’s lawsuit that claims his contract was not renewed in retaliation for criticizing the district’s handling of the Miramonte Elementary sex abuse case cannot move forward without more information being added to the complaint. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin found that there are not enough...
By Craig Clough | December 15, 2014
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JUST IN: Cortines requests delay in counting computer test results

In a sudden reversal for LA Unified, Superintendent Ramon Cortines is asking the state to ignore the district’s Smarter Balanced testing results as a measure of academic growth or improvement next year. In a letter to the State Schools Chief, Tom Torlakson on Friday, Cortines wrote, “I have determined that it would be untimely to have...
By Vanessa Romo | December 15, 2014
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Podcast: Teacher of the Year struggled with English as a child

Lovelyn Marquez-Preuher, an eighth-grade English teacher at Dodson Middle School in Rancho Palos Verdes, recently became one of five educators the California Department of Education named California Teacher of the Year. In an interview with Bob Bravo, LA Unified’s Local Instructional Service Center-South Superintendent, for his weekly podcast, Marquez-Preuher discussed her path to becoming a teacher, a...
By Craig Clough | December 15, 2014
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LAUSD board honors Marguerite LaMotte, retiring employee

The LA Unified school board honored two people at its meeting Tuesday as retiring 20-year employee Linda Perez received a certificate of appreciation and late board member Marguerite LaMotte was remembered with a moment of silence. LaMotte was a long-serving member of the board when she passed away on Dec. 5, 2013 at the age...
By Craig Clough | December 12, 2014
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Heavy rains caused little disruption across LA Unified
LA Unified escaped major disruptions because of the rainstorm that swept across the region last night and this morning. Mark Hovatter, the district’s Chief Facilities Director, told LA School Report today that power was reported out in only four schools, and three were back to normal by mid-morning with one remaining to be rectified by this...
By LA School Report | December 12, 2014
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Ballot order set for 2015 LAUSD board candidate races

* UPDATED The City Clerk’s office today completed verification of petitions to qualify for the March primary in LA Unified’s four school board races. After a random draw of letters, the ballot order is now set for how candidate names will appear. Here’s the way they will be listed: District 1 George McKenna, incumbent (No...
By LA School Report | December 12, 2014
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Analysis: LAUSD board contemplates enrollment drop

“Forty years ago we were in competition with private schools. Now, we’re in competition with charters.” That was LA Unified board vice president Steve Zimmer yesterday, speaking at a board committee meeting where the issue at hand was district enrollment. The number of kids attending the district’s traditional schools has been declining since 2003, now...
By Michael Janofsky | December 12, 2014
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Commentary: LA Unified didn’t do its homework on ethnic studies

Via The Los Angeles Times | By the Editorial Board Ideally, high school history courses would not be so overwhelmingly focused on the accomplishments of white males and would pay more attention to the roles played by others. There has been progress in that direction — in fact, the College Board has come under withering...
By LA School Report | December 12, 2014
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Cortines backpedals from statement that charters get more

UPDATED* LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines has corrected a statement he made at Tuesday’s board meeting, telling the members in an email that he erred in saying charter schools receive more in state funding than traditional public schools. “One of the problems is the funding of charters versus regular schools. And the charters in the state get...
By Craig Clough | December 11, 2014