Education

Teachers union dues rise along with pay

The Los Angeles Unified School District this month agreed to a 10 percent raise for teachers, creating a deficit for the district that would reach $559 million by 2016-17, according to a projection by the district. It was reportedly the first

Did use of school bonds for iPads deceive bond buyers?

Chris Reed April 21, 2015

When California voters passed Proposition 39 in 2000, they thought they were simply making it easier to pass school bonds for construction of facilities by lowering the approval threshold from two-thirds of the vote to 55 percent. But a provision

Bill to end high school exit exam advances

Chris Reed April 17, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown and state schools chief Tom Torlakson have made plain for years they want no part of the education reform agenda touted by President Obama and think tanks backed by Bill Gates. The state has not pursued federal

CA poll: Public schools good, tenure bad

James Poulos April 16, 2015

A new poll indicated that Californians broadly supported public school reform, even among respondents whose support for public education remained strong: “Californians trust their public school teachers and want to spend more money supporting public schools, according to a recent poll. […] California

CA court OKs school yoga

James Poulos April 6, 2015

Yoga classes didn’t violate the California Constitution, an appellate court has ruled. This year, a North San Diego County school district roiled some Californians with concerns that its yoga program was too religious. As similar programs have spread around the country,

SCOTUS sides with CA school banning American flag shirt

James Poulos March 31, 2015

After five years of controversy and litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand one of the most controversial rulings to come out of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Known for how often it is overturned in the higher court,

Four bills could wrap charter schools in red tape

John Seiler March 29, 2015

Since their introduction in California 23 years ago, charter schools have grown like kudzu. According to the California Charter Schools Association, the state now boasts 1,184 charter schools, teaching an estimated 547,800 students. Charters are public schools that generally work

LAO questions local school funding accountability

Dave Roberts March 23, 2015

When Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation in July 2013 that increased funding for the state’s neediest students and restored local control over how that money is spent, he hailed it as “historic.” Brown also called it “truly revolutionary. We are

Big UC changes may come from private ‘Committee of Two’ meetings

Joel Fox March 19, 2015

Ironically, in the midst of Sunshine Week, designed to create more open government and freedom of information, the “Committee of Two” considering the financial situation of the UC system – Gov. Jerry Brown and University of California President Janet Napolitano – are

VIDEO: Napolitano won’t take ‘crap’ from students

John Seiler March 19, 2015

University of California President Janet Napolitano apparently didn’t realize the mic was on. Talking to to Board of Regents Chairman Bruce Varner about student-protest chants, she said, “Let’s just break. Let’s go, let’s go. We don’t have to listen to this crap.”