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November ballot measures could have huge impact on LAUSD
California voters may face difficult decisions regarding the future of education in the state in November as the state ballot could feature several propositions that would have an enormous impact on the educational landscape. So far only one ed-related measure has been cleared for voting, but there are several others in the works, each with...
By Craig Clough | January 4, 2016
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Report: With cost of living, CA ranks 42nd in per-pupil spending
A new report from the California Budget & Policy Center found that when adjustments are made for cost of living, California ranked 42nd in the nation in per-pupil spending for the 2014-15 school year. The low ranking comes even after a surge in education spending in the state has brought billions more into the K-12...
By Craig Clough | November 20, 2015
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Commentary: Where I would spend the ‘Local Control’ money
Want to play the least fun game in the world? It’s called “Principal for a Day.” I know, back when you were five, it used to sound so fun to follow the principal around, issuing commands—Extra recess for everyone! Free donuts in the cafeteria!—but thanks to years of budget cuts, the game is no longer...
By Ellie Herman | March 5, 2014
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UTLA Lampoons Deasy in Promoting Salary Rally
UTLA is planning a rally outside LA Unified headquarters at 4 p.m. tomorrow to demand pay raises. The protest comes on the one-year anniversary of Prop 30, a measure that raised state taxes to avert nearly $6 billion in cuts to public education. “We cannot allow the Superintendent to squander Prop 30 funds on pet...
By Chase Niesner | November 12, 2013
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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LA Unified Board Considers Common Core — Yet Again
Today is expected be another long day for LA Unified School Board members. Last week’s eight-hour session — only the second board meeting of the school year –was not long enough to hash out the details of the district’s Common Core implementation plan, so they’ve sandwiched in a Special Board Meeting between two others that...
By Vanessa Romo | September 17, 2013
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Could Prop 30 Money Go to Pension Fund?
The California Teachers Pension Fund (CalSTRS), the largest fund of its kind in the United States, is facing a $70 billion budget crisis, and there are growing concerns that Prop 30 money could be diverted from local schools and into the pension system. A Huffington Post article on Wednesday pointed to a recent report from...
By Samantha Oltman | April 4, 2013
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Morning Read: Parent Trigger Proposal Well-Received
Proposal for Parent-Trigger Overhaul at L.A. School Well-Received Leaders of a parent group have endorsed a plan to improve 24th Street Elementary, which would be jointly run by L.A. Unified and Crown Prep charter school. LA Times See also: LA School Report, LA Times Now Teacher Dismissal Bill Off and Running With Committee Approval A...
By Samantha Oltman | April 4, 2013
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Morning Read: Decreased Pink Slips Statewide
Dramatic Dip in ‘Pink Slips’ Given to Teachers Reports are still trickling in, but the number could be as low as 2,600 notices statewide – down 87 percent from the 20,000 “pink slips” issued last year and just a 10th of the 26,000 notices issued in 2010, the peak during the recession, according to the California...
By Samantha Oltman | March 15, 2013
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UTLA, LAUSD Prep for Prop. 30 Budget Battle
Conflicting priorities over how to spend an influx of $6 billion in statewide Prop. 30 funds are causing tensions between LAUSD and the teachers union, UTLA. As a recent UTLA newletter reveals, concerns about how the money will be spent are one of the reasons that the union is so focused on the outcome of...
By Samantha Oltman | February 6, 2013
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Morning Read: LAUSD Approves Teacher Grading Deal
L.A. Unified Says Deal on Evaluations Meets Court Order The Los Angeles Unified School District filed court papers Tuesday asserting that a new tentative agreement with the teachers union has satisfied judicial orders to use state standardized test scores in instructor evaluations. LA Times LAUSD Board OKs Deal With Teachers Union on Performance Evaluations The...
By Samantha Oltman | December 5, 2012