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Parent centers proliferating at LAUSD, leading to better test scores, attendance and engagement
One of the most popular classes at 20th Street Elementary School has 43 dedicated students who come twice a week. They’re all parents. The parents of this 600-student school just south of downtown Los Angeles come here to learn English. They do projects for teachers. They discuss school issues. Their children even help them...
By Mike Szymanski | October 6, 2016
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Despite district rules, Haddon Elementary increases enrollment and decreases absenteeism with unique programs
Haddon Elementary Avenue School is so in demand that families want to drive their children across the San Fernando Valley from Granada Hills to attend the Pacoima school. Haddon is not a charter school, it’s not a new pilot program and it’s not a magnet school (yet). It’s a traditional Title 1 district school in a...
By Mike Szymanski | August 18, 2016
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JUST IN: No lawsuit for 20th Street Elementary as parents, LA Unified agree to plan by Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
After two legal attempts by parents to take over a South-Central LA elementary school they said was failing their children, an agreement has been reached for the school to join the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. The deal averts a threatened lawsuit and ends a two-year “parent trigger” battle. The agreement moves 20th Street Elementary...
By Craig Clough | July 5, 2016
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Lawsuit likely averted: 20th Street School moves toward Partnership plan instead of ‘parent trigger’
Parents may be on the verge of settling a two-year “parent trigger” battle at 20th Street Elementary School without a lawsuit, which both sides hoped to avoid. Nearly 200 parents, students and teachers attended a Monday evening meeting at the school and heard about a unique alternative in which 20th Street would win greater autonomy but be neither...
By Mike Szymanski | May 25, 2016
Investigation: Nearly 1,000 Native Children Died in Federal Boarding Schools
Podcast: What a Mentorship Mindset Can Do for Student Motivation
Black and Hispanic Voters Say Democrats Aren’t Focused Enough on K-12 Education
Teen Activist Rhea Maniar on the Power of Abortion to Turn Out Young Voters
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High stakes over ‘parent trigger’: Closed session discussion tries to avoid 20th Street lawsuit
The LA Unified school board broke into a surprise closed session for several hours Tuesday afternoon in the middle of their public meeting in order to head off a potential “parent trigger” lawsuit over 20th Street Elementary School. All morning, the school board was in closed session to discuss employee actions, contract renewals and pending litigation....
By Mike Szymanski | May 11, 2016
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After denying parent trigger, district meets with school but some parents are still unhappy
About 100 parents from 20th Street Elementary School met Tuesday night in the auditorium with more than a dozen school administrators after the district denied a “parent trigger” that would allow them to make sweeping changes to the school. Some of the parents were still unhappy, however. “It was like a big cheerleading session,” said parent...
By Mike Szymanski | March 16, 2016
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LAUSD rejects 20th Street parent trigger, says no triggers valid in state
LA Unified has rejected a parent petition to take over a failing elementary school in South Central Los Angeles, reversing district policy and essentially asserting that no California school qualifies under the state “parent trigger” law. Parents of 20th Street Elementary School were informed of the district’s rejection in a letter late Saturday, the last day...
By Mike Szymanski | March 14, 2016
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Parent trigger tries takeover at South Central school, again
For the first time, a Parent Trigger has been threatened twice for the same school. The parents of the 20th Street Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles are fed up with the lack of response from LA Unified after their first attempt two years ago to take over the school and on Monday filed...
By Mike Szymanski | February 3, 2016
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Parent Revolution announces Seth Litt as new CEO
Parent Revolution has announced that Seth Litt is taking over as its CEO. The news comes a full nine months after the organization’s former executive director and founder, Ben Austin, stepped down. Parent Revolution was formed in 2009 by Austin and played a role in creating California’s “parent trigger” law. It also offers guidance and help to parent...
By Craig Clough | August 27, 2015
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Fishburn parents and teachers succeed in ousting principal
Parents and teachers have succeeded in ousting a principal and assistant principal from Fishburn Avenue Elementary School in Maywood. “We heard exciting news that the district is going to transfer both the principal and assistant principal,” said Alfonso Flores, an educational consultant and founder of Excellent Educational Solutions. “This is the best possible outcome and...
By Mike Szymanski | July 1, 2015