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Survey: parents want more change, power in schools

A new poll commissioned by Parent Revolution finds that two-thirds of California voters believe that the state education system needs either a “major” change or a “complete overhaul,” and by the same 2-1 margin they believe schools are currently focusing on the needs of adults rather than children. The results were included in a poll of...
By LA School Report | January 10, 2014
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Torlakson, Democrats backing measure to expand pre-K
Democratic lawmakers and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson are sponsoring new legislation to provide free public preschool to every four-year-old child in California. The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2014, introduced by Darrel Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and co-sponsored by Torlakson and Early Edge California, will expand access to transitional kindergarten programs to all four year old children, no...
By Chase Niesner | January 10, 2014
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Governor Brown’s budget pumps billions more into school funding

After years of “drought” Governor Jerry Brown wants to make it rain on the state’s public schools. Brown’s budget proposal unveiled today for the 2014-15 fiscal year dedicates an extra $10 billion to K-12 schools, plus an additional $6 billion to wipe out the debt to schools accumulated over several years of recession cuts. It’s the...
By Vanessa Romo | January 9, 2014
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Analysis: Zimmer takes center stage in LAUSD drama

Emerging as something of a Shakespearean figure, LA Unified School Board trustee Steve Zimmer took central stage earlier this week at a long board meeting complete with its share of sound and fury. Zimmer, facing one of the most challenging moments in his political career, had been publicly cryptic about his position on the evening’s...
By Jamie Alter Lynton | January 9, 2014
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LIVESTREAM coverage of today’s LA Unfied committee meetings

How will the LAUSD Board establish it’s Local Control Funding Formula? Want an update on the school construction upgrade program? Find out with LA School Report‘s live stream of today’s two meetings: 1:00 p.m.: LAUSD Budget, Facilities and Audit Committee 4:00 p.m. Early Childhood Education and Parent Engagement Committee Click HERE for a livestream of the proceedings.
By LA School Report | January 9, 2014
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Board can’t appoint ‘voting’ interim, says LAUSD lawyer

David Holmquist essentially agrees with board member Steve Zimmer. It’s just not right, Holmquist said, that existing laws keep the LA Unified District 1 board seat vacant until after a special election in June, denying families equal representation for months. But if Zimmer is expecting Holmquist, LAUSD’s General Counsel, to navigate around the LA City Charter, he is...
By Michael Janofsky | January 9, 2014
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City Council to take up election for LaMotte’s LAUSD seat tomorrow

With unusual dispatch, the Los Angeles City Council will address the issue of a special election tomorrow to fill the vacant seat at the Los Angeles Unified school board left by the death of Marguerite LaMotte. The City Council must approve the action taken by the LA Unified school board earlier this week, after spirited...
By Vanessa Romo | January 9, 2014
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A silent night for two LA Unified board members

For all the passion and discord over how to fill a vacant seat, two of the six LA Unified board members were silent during the board’s hour-long debate last night. Neither the current president, Richard Vladovic, nor his predecessor, Monica Garcia, weighed in, apart from their votes. Before a 4-2 decision to hold a June...
By Vanessa Romo | January 8, 2014
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U.S. to designate poor L.A. areas a ‘Promise Zone,’ eligible for aid

Via The Los Angeles Times | By Soumya Karlamangla The White House on Wednesday will designate a swath of Los Angeles a “Promise Zone,” a move intended to marshal millions of dollars in federal resources for pockets of poverty under a signature program of the Obama administration. Marking the 50th anniversary of President Johnson’s launch...
By LA School Report | January 8, 2014
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LA Unified board sets election, considers a ‘caretaker’

After weeks of uncertainty, the Los Angeles Unified school board voted last night to hold a special election in June to fill the seat left vacant by Marguerite LaMotte, who died last month. But the remaining six members left open the possibility of appointing a caretaker to represent District 1 families and students in the...
By Vanessa Romo | January 8, 2014