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‘Difficult conversation’ on charters finally comes to LAUSD board

After three revisions, a resolution aimed at curtailing future charter school expansion in LA Unified is finally coming before the school board for a vote on Tuesday. While the measure is largely symbolic in that it cannot change policy regarding charter growth — that is a state matter — it’s a way to open a “difficult conversation...
By Mike Szymanski | January 8, 2016
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LAUSD helps create model anti-bullying campaign for Japan

After a rash of suicides by local teenagers’ hanging themselves, jumping off rooftops and throwing themselves in front of subways, the mayor of Nagoya, Japan turned to LA Unified for help, and what he got is an anti-bullying campaign that is now a model for schools in Japan. Holly Priebe-Diaz, who helped put together the LAUSD anti-bullying...
By Mike Szymanski | January 8, 2016
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10 reasons why we’re (pretty) sure LAUSD gets it done Monday

It’s time, right? We’ve known for ages that Ramon Cortines was stepping down as LA Unified superintendent. The process to replace him has been going on for months, and the end appears in sight. So, here are 10 reasons why we might know the new boss on Monday, when the board is scheduled to meet again....
By LA School Report | January 8, 2016
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LAUSD teachers union to challenge number of tests students take
For years, teachers unions and activists in California have protested that there’s too much testing in public schools that eats away at precious learning time. The largest teachers union in California, United Teachers Los Angeles, is now beginning steps to challenge the number of tests given in the 650,000 student school district — or to...
By LA School Report | January 8, 2016
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Brown’s CA budget proposal includes increase for education
California Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled his new $122.6-billion budget proposal today, the first part of a complicated process that should lead to its passage sometime over the summer. While pundits are describing it as another conservative budget from Brown, K-12 education funding looks to get a boost, with an increase to $51.2 billion from $49.8 billion in the...
By Craig Clough | January 7, 2016
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Friedrichs case threatening teacher union funds going before SCOTUS

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Monday in a case that threatens the financial strength of teacher unions in California and 23 other states. The Friedrichs’ v. California Teachers Association lawsuit was brought by a group of California teachers seeking a dismissal from the requirement that they pay compulsory union dues....
By Craig Clough | January 7, 2016
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Signs point to new LAUSD superintendent by early next week

Here’s another bit of evidence to suggest that LA Unified will have a new superintendent by next week. The agenda for a board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12 includes this: “Recommends approval of an employment agreement for the Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent of Schools.” That would presume that the members will have coalesced around one candidate...
By Mike Szymanski | January 7, 2016
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CA’s well-being report finds mixed results for state’s children

By Tom Chorneau State officials won high marks for efforts to make sure all low-income children are covered by health insurance but challenges still stand when it comes to ensuring access to care and to specialized services, according to a new survey. The 2016 report card on California from Children Now estimated that during the two years...
By LA School Report | January 7, 2016
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LA Unified schools weathering well so far in early El Niño storm

Months of preparation in anticipation of the El Niño storms have kept service calls to LA Unified’s facilities office to a “moderate” level, according to the school district’s director of Maintenance and Operations Roger Finstad. Yesterday, he said, his department received 423 rain-related service calls from 211 schools, and by mid-afternoon today, he received 235 calls from...
By Mike Szymanski | January 6, 2016
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‘Star Wars’ director J.J. Abrams had LAUSD teacher in mind for ‘Maz’

* UPDATED She gave $1 million to Palisades Charter High School for classroom renovations and building a community pool. She was LAUSD’s oldest full-time teacher when she retired at 94 and one of the oldest ever in the nation. She taught the children of Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum. And, her students...
By Mike Szymanski | January 6, 2016