A California Superior Court judge today cleared the way leading to a trial in a case that seeks to overhaul state regulations that safeguard quality public education through rules governing teacher dismissals. Judge Rolf Treu finalized his ruling of yesterday, denying a request by defendants in the case, Vergara v. California, including the state and...

By Karen Bass, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Herb Wesson and John W. Mack The LA Times remembered Marguerite LaMotte last week as an unbowed and outspoken voice for our community and its students. She was all those things and more. To understand the depth of her conviction and the wellspring of her courage, one need only read...

LA Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu today denied a request to dismiss a lawsuit from students, seeking to strike down state regulations that they contend make it difficult for school districts to fire ineffective teachers In his ruling, Judge Treu said he found “sufficient evidence” to clear the way for a trial, which is schedule to...

An aerial view of Saturn Elementary School in Mid City reveals a giant asphalt rectangle – about 70,000 square feet – taking up two-thirds of a city block. There’s one tree on the playground, and the only patch of grass runs along the front of the school. It’s a bleak portrait of an era when...

Lawyers in the Vergara v. California case will be back in Los Angeles Superior Court tomorrow for Judge Rolf Treu to hear arguments from the defendants  to dismiss the case without a trial. Again. The lawsuit, known colloquially as the “Bad Teacher” lawsuit, has been brought by Students Matter on behalf of nine California students and...

Via LA Times | By Stephen Ceasar A former Nevada teacher charged with kidnapping a 16-year-old girl was previously an instructor in the Los Angeles Unified School District — which had moved to fire him and sought to have his teaching credentials revoked after allegations of sexual misconduct with students surfaced. Melvyn Sprowson, 45, appeared...

The LA Unified school board will likely decide next week how to fill the seat vacated by the sudden death of Marguerite LaMotte, according to the board meeting agenda posted today. For now, the vote that could determine which way appears to be Steve Zimmer‘s. With a choice of appointing a replacement or calling a...

Recently, a reader commented on one of my posts, asking me to offer some concrete goals and steps to avoid burnout. First of all, thank you for asking my advice. I am no expert on burnout except that I personally experienced it. For truly professional advice, I highly recommend a book by Christina Maslach and...