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Deasy’s Theme for New School Year: ‘The Genius Among Us’
Today, in Part Two of Vanessa Romo’s interview with LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy, he talks about the year ahead as schools open today, the district’s new iPad program and local spending formulas. He also talks about his personal reading habits, which do not include a certain new digital device. Q: What are some of...
By LA School Report | August 13, 2013
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Deasy: ‘One of the Biggest Adjustments Ever’
LA Unified opens its doors for a new school year tomorrow, and despite an especially contentious few months for LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy, he’s all optimism. In Part One of a two-part interview, LA School Report contributor Vanessa Romo talks with Deasy about his relationship with teachers, the challenges of pioneering the new Common Core...
By LA School Report | August 12, 2013
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Teachers Unions Chagrin: Waiver Process Left Them Out
The two biggest statewide teachers unions — California Teachers Association (CTA) and California Federation of Teachers (CFT) — have problems with the waivers granted to eight school districts from the federal program, No Child Left Behind. The objections, however, are more about how they came about than what they mean. “My guess is that there...
By Hillel Aron | August 12, 2013
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CA Finds Social Media Postings During Tests at 23 LAUSD Schools
Nearly two dozen LA Unified schools were cited by state education officials on Friday as schools where social media postings occurred during recent statewide tests. In a news release, they identified two schools — Alexander Hamilton Senior High and Alliance Cindy and Bill Simon Technology Academy High – where the postings showed legible test questions...
By LA School Report | August 9, 2013
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California Could Face Year With No Meaningful Testing Data
People are still scratching their heads over what happened with California students’ test scores, which went down for the first time in a decade, as the state reported on Thursday. But the greater uncertainty could lie ahead. The plan is for all students to be tested on a new curriculum — the Common Core State...
By Hillel Aron | August 9, 2013
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Matt Damon and His Really Hard Public School Dilemma
Look, sometimes it’s tough being famous. People crave what you have to say. They believe you when you espouse certain opinions. They trust you. They like to think you’re a Celebrity of Your Word. But then there’s that touchy issue of education. Hmm. Yes, you’re a huge supporter of public schools . . . but...
By LA School Report | August 9, 2013
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10 Questions That Could Define the New LA Unified School Year
As the summer break winds to a close and schools open on Tuesday, the LA Unified School District finds itself in the usual swirl of change and challenge. Here are 10 questions to think about as the year unfolds. Consider it the first exam of 2013-2014: 1) Will Superintendent John Deasy really stay? He said...
By Hillel Aron | August 9, 2013
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Deasy to LAUSD Administrators: I’m Staying on the Job
John Deasy isn’t leaving. In his annual address to LA Unified administrators, the LASUSD Superintendent addressed head-on recent reports that his rocky relationship with the school board may lead to his resignation or removal. “A lot of chatter this summer, if you read blogs or read newspapers,” he said, “So let’s clear that up really quickly:...
By Hillel Aron | August 8, 2013
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Slim Gains, Slight Drop in English for LA Unified in CA Test Scores
Scores from statewide California tests taken by LA Unified students in the 2012-2013 academic year were only slightly higher than results from the year before. While the gains were more modest than in previous years, they still reflected overall improvement while the state average fell by a fraction of a percentage point. “We’ve outpaced the...
By Hillel Aron | August 8, 2013
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California Student Test Scores Coming Later This Morning
The clock is ticking. California’s annual review of how students are doing are only minutes away. Known as the STAR Program, for Standardized Testing and Reporting, it’s an alphabet soup of separate assessments, covering various subjects and administered to 4.7 million students in grades two through eleven. The scores will tell us how much better or...
By LA School Report | August 8, 2013