LAUSD Board approves policy change for school operators
United Teachers Los Angeles must approve change
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Applicants from the district will receive first consideration to operate schools under a policy change unanimously approved by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education and criticized by the head of the California Charter Schools Association.
Under the previous policy, outside teams, such as charter school operators and nonprofit groups, could compete with in-district teams of teachers and educators to operate new campuses and existing, chronically low-performing schools.
The change would effect the third round of the Public School Choice program, which will involve 15 newly built campuses and 22 existing schools, which are scheduled to open with new operators in August or September 2012.
The change would only go into effect if a new collective bargaining agreement is reached with United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing the district’s teachers, by Nov. 1.
“This policy keeps the best aspects of PSC, while giving LAUSD applicant teams an opportunity to be more competitive, innovative and creative,” said board member Tamar Galatzan, who wrote the amendment that resulted in the new policy.
Jed Wallace, president and chief executive officer of the California Charter Schools Association, said, “while we clearly would have preferred a different result today, we understand the process to reform and improve public education in Los Angeles is challenging and will require resolve.”
“We continue to support the board in its efforts to move forward with district reform,” Wallace said. “However, there can be no doubt that the change approved today impedes high-performing charter schools from applying for new schools and creates roadblocks to in-district and charter school collaboration.”
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Although the mayor of Los Angeles has no formal role in education, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will focus on education during his annual State of the City speech today at Jefferson High School.
Villaraigosa is expected to unveil new plans to "engage in more aggressive (education) reforms to give students and parents more and better choices,'' an aide said.
Villaraigosa is also expected to discuss the city's budget crisis, his transportation initiatives and public safety.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Voters will fill the final seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board today, choosing between a former assistant to the mayor and an attorney who is also a teacher.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles Unified School District board voted unanimously today to continue the Breakfast in the Classroom program, which has faced some criticism for cutting into instruction time and causing some unsanitary conditions at schools.
“Every program … has problems with its implementation,” board member Steve Zimmer said. “That’s what happens. It’s not breaking news. Our obligation is to work out the problems. That’s what we do.”
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A two-day closure went into effect at Miramonte Elementary School today to enable the Los Angeles Unified School District to replace the entire staff following the arrests of two teachers on allegations of lewd acts and sexual crimes against students.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the city will receive at least $10 million in federal funds to help keep chronically absent students in school.
The federal Workforce Investment Grant will be given to the Los Angeles Unified School District to hire full-time staff that will work with students year-round to improve attendance.
The grant could be as high as $13 million. The amount might go up after Congress finalizes its budget, but $10 million is guaranteed.
