Survey: Growing Support for Online Ed - 06/11/2013

Adding to the nationwide debate over the (inevitable) expansion of online education, a recent poll commissioned by the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences found that Californians have grown increasingly enthusiastic about online learning. The poll found that 59% of registered voters in California agreed with the statement that adding more online classes to the public university system will make higher education more accessible and more affordable.
LAUSD Cracks Down on Teacher Misconduct - 05/14/2013

In the wake of last January’s Miramonte Elementary School Scandal, Los Angeles Unified School District has adopted a new zero tolerance policy for teachers. The district is now looking to toughen those policies to include cheating as an instantly fireable offense.
CSU May Get $10 Million for Online Ed - 04/15/2013

In his proposed state budget, Gov. Jerry Brown recommended giving California State University $125.1 million more than it received last year, including $10 million allocated for online technology.
L.A. Mayoral Candidates Talk Education - 03/06/2013

The Los Angeles election is upcoming, and the mayoral candidates are using their stances and plans on education to differentiate themselves.
Studies: Tweens Think Bullying Is Cool - 02/13/2013

Do middle schoolers admire bullies? A recent study of nearly 2,000 middle schoolers found that they looked up to the kids who bullied.
Algebra Req. Dropped for CA 8th-Graders - 02/07/2013

Shifting away from its 15-year policy of requiring all eighth graders to take algebra, California is now allowing 8th-grade students to take either Algebra I, or an alternate course that includes some algebra.
Parents Rally to Reform LAUSD School - 01/24/2013

A group of parents from a West Adams elementary school on Thursday has signed a petition hoping to invoke the “Parent Trigger” law on the 24th Street Elementary School, located in an impoverished, mostly Hispanic immigrant neighborhood south of downtown Los Angeles.
CA State School Funding Shifts in Future - 01/03/2013

Looking to overhaul the way funding is distributed to schools in the state of California, California Governor Jerry Brown is planning sweeping policy changes that would provide more funding for schools in poorer areas with disadvantaged students.
LAUSD & Union Agree on Teacher Evals - 12/06/2012

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the teachers union reached a tentative agreement last week after months of negotiating over a court order requiring the district to use concrete data, including test scores, in their teacher evaluations.
LAUSD to Mainstream ESL Students Quicker - 11/27/2012

In an effort to close the achievement gap and mainstream English language-learning students into academic classes quicker, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation’s second largest school district, has launched new more rigorous programs into their school system.
Brown's Symphonic Love Foundation - 11/12/2012

Pop culture artist Chris Brown is slowly winning back the acceptance of many with the Symphonic Love Foundation, which cultivates the creativity of young minds around the country.
Prop 30 to Bring More Ed. Funding in CA - 11/07/2012

After gaining a strong push from voters, Los Angeles' Proposition 30, which seeks tax raises for additional educational funding, passed with a 54 percent majority. This proposition passed as a competing education proposition; proposition 38 failed to gain traction with voters.
L.A. Schools Lose Out on $40 Million - 10/31/2012

Los Angeles Unified School District's efforts to win a Race to the Top grant worth $40 million has been derailed after teachers unions refused to sign off on the district's proposal, citing long-term budget concerns.
Adelanto Parents' Victory - 10/25/2012

Last Friday, Adelanto Elementary School District parents won a key victory when a judge ruled that they must be allowed to open an independent charter school next fall. This may just be a historical moment for the California parent trigger law, which was passed just two years ago, as the parents have no further legal obstacles yet in sight to prevent them from changing their children’s failing elementary school, Desert Trails, into a charter campus.
Online Master Teacher Writing Contest - 10/17/2012

360 Education Solutions just released their annual teacher writing contest, running from Oct.-Nov. 2012! The deadline for entry submissions is November 19, 2012.
Parent Trigger Laws Sparks Debate - 10/11/2012

"Won’t Back Down," a Hollywood film released late last month, has caused quite a bit of controversy. The movie is a fictional story inspired by the California parent trigger law that passed two years ago, and has amplified questions over whether parent trigger laws can help in reforming public education. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, parent trigger laws are currently on the books in seven states total - California, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas - with as many as 20 others considering them.
CA to Limit Role of Tests on API Scores - 09/27/2012

A new bill designed to lessen the impact of standardized tests on how public schools are evaluated was recently signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown. The bill comes as only a part of a multitude of education-related bills signed into law.
'Gamification' School Opens in LA - 09/25/2012

GameDesk, a nonprofit organization that develops game-based learning initiatives, opened their first school in Los Angeles earlier this month. The company has received millions in funding that they will be using towards several project initiatives in digital learning.
Student Scores to Evaluate Admins in LA - 09/24/2012

According to a new agreement reached by the district and the administrators' union, Los Angeles administrators for the first time will be evaluated using student test scores to determine effectiveness. Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District John Deasy announced last month the one-year agreement which would allow the new evaluation system to be put into practice.
New LAUSD Schools Boost Student Scores - 08/16/2012

After opening 131 new schools over last decade in the Los Angeles Unified School District, administrators have significantly shrunk overcrowding in schools giving elementary students an academic boost, according to a Berkeley study. However, the boost has not translated to high school students.
Teacher Boot Camp - 07/31/2012

The United States Marine Corp is putting a new twist on their recruiting techniques in the state of California. Usually, intimidated young men and women test their endurance and training, and then enlist with "the few, the proud, the Marines." However, that was not the case of an instance that happened just last week...
Student-Posted Test Photos Delay Scores - 07/19/2012

CA state test results will be postponed 2 weeks for extra review, according to an announcement sent to state school districts this week by the Department of Education.
Lawsuit Takes Aim at Teacher Protections - 05/16/2012

Representing eight students, a Bay Area nonprofit known for battling teachers unions has filed a lawsuit challenging the California laws that protect teachers from losing their jobs. They claim that these laws are misguided and keep ineffective teachers in the classroom long after they should be released.
CA Teacher Named Teacher of the Year - 04/24/2012

The Obama Administration has named California middle school teacher Rebecca Mieliwocki as the 2012 Teacher of the Year. President Obama honored Mieliwocki in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House.
State Struggles with Teacher Firing Laws - 04/19/2012

In the wake of high profile teacher-sex scandals, California lawmakers have been trying to pass three bills making it easier to fire teachers who are accused of gross misconduct. However, after opposition from teachers unions, only one has cleared committee after one has failed to pass and the other has stalled.
New Law to Ban Student-Teacher Affairs - 04/04/2012

In the wake of a recent case of an 18-year old high school student running away with her 41-year old high school teacher, California is poised to pass a law that would make it a felony for a teacher to engage in a relationship with a student regardless of whether that student is 18 or not.
Report Urges Changes in Layoff Procedure - 03/29/2012

According to a new report from the Legislative Analyst Office, California’s teacher layoff process needs to be revamped because it is too costly and often has school districts sending out more pink slips than needed. This comes just days after 20,000 teachers were laid off across the state.
Middle School Science Lagging in CA - 03/28/2012

A new study out by The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning at WestEd reports that California’s middle schools are struggling in providing quality science education to middle school students. This is attributed to a lack of science education in elementary school due to a focus on teaching math and science in preparation for standardized tests and a lack of teacher training for middle school science teachers.
LAUSD Board Announces New Budget Cuts - 03/15/2012

Around 500 protesters-mostly supporters of adult education, arts education and early childhood education-rallied outside as the Los Angeles School Board and Superintendent John Deasy presented a worst-case scenario budget that could force the cuts of the adult education program and potentially leave many teachers without jobs.
CSU Offers Courses for Laid Off Teachers - 02/22/2012

For many laid off teachers in California, exploring higher education options has become easier. Partnerships between universities and school districts are allowing teachers to take classes to get new credentials in different areas. California State University in Sacramento has partnered with the Sacramento Unified School District to provide free classes to receive credentials in hard-to-fill subjects like math and science.
CA Schools May Cut Counselors - 02/13/2012

When you think of a school counselor you may just think of someone who helps students decide what classes to take, or gives students information about various colleges and higher education institutions, but in reality, school counselors do a lot more than that.With that being said, many schools in California are struggling with various budget cuts for the upcoming year. For a number of schools, those cuts mean they have to lose a majority, if not their entire, counseling department.
L.A. Schools Struggle with Healthy Lunch - 12/21/2011

After leading the charge in overhauling their school lunch menu by reducing the amount of junk food on campuses with healthier entrees, banning soda on school campuses, the Los Angeles Unified School District has hit some snags. Students, teachers and parents are complaining about the menu items, and the quality of the food. This, in turn has students bringing their own junk food on campus to eat in place of the lunch that the school has provided.
L.A. Public Schools Gain New Autonomy - 12/02/2011

Overhauling a 2-year old labor agreement that allowed charter operators to take over low-performing schools, the Los Angeles Unified District (LAUSD) and its teachers union (UTLA) have reached a new agreement. Under this new agreement, local schools now have more autonomy over hiring, curriculum and working conditions.
NCLB Waiver Could Cost State $2 Billion - 11/15/2011

After weighing the potential costs of a No Child Left Behind waiver for California at a meeting, the state Board of Education is debating whether to apply for the waiver. According to reports, a NCLB waiver could cost the state over $2 billion to implement all of the changes required to qualify for the waiver.
California to Add a Year to Kindergarten - 11/11/2011

Starting in January, California will add a second year of kindergarten, called transitional kindergarten, for the youngest students born between December and September. This comes as a response to the state moving the age deadline to register for kindergarten up from Dec. 2 to Sept. 1.
Whitman to Invest in Teach For America - 10/26/2011

Meg Whitman, Hewlett-Packard CEO and former candidate for governor of California, will invest $10 million into Teach For America. Half of the investment will go toward schools in California. The other half will go toward Teach For America’s national effort toward doubling the size of its teaching corps.
Study: CA Schools Pushing Out Science - 10/25/2011

As more emphasis has been placed on passing Math and English assessments, according to a statewide study, science educational opportunities have taken a back seat in California elementary schools. According to the study, teachers spend as little as 60 minutes per day on science, and many teachers feel unprepared and under-trained in teaching science.
LAUSD to Remedy Civil Rights Issues - 10/12/2011

After a 19-month probe into potential civil rights violations by the Department of Education, Los Angeles School District, Los Angeles Unified, settled the investigation by agreeing to make sweeping changes both in how they teach non-English speakers as well as black students. The investigation and settlement could serve as a model for other school districts around the country that are facing similar problems as the number of non-English speakers is steadily increasing.
California SB 547 on the Right Path - 08/24/2011

Looks like California will finally address some of the education problems that many people have been trying to fix for years. Senate Bill 547, introduced by the Senate President Pro Temp for California, Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), will now acknowledge these deficiencies and hopefully find a solution. The bill's main goal is to reduce the importance that the California school system places on standardized test scores in assessing high school performance. In order to do this, the State Board of Education will be required to modify the Academic Performance Index (API) by 2014, to include additional markers of student preparedness for success in higher education as well as the workplace within the curriculum and testing.

California Education News