Education - latimes.com

LAUSD board could ban suspensions for 'willful defiance'

By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:26:00 PDT

Backers of the resolution say 'zero tolerance' is harming kids. 'Instead of punishing students, we're going to engage them,' says one supporter.

Damien Valentine knows painfully well about a national phenomenon that is imperiling the academic achievement of minority students, particularly African Americans like himself: the pervasive and disproportionate use of suspensions from school for mouthing off and other acts of defiance.

L.A. Unified bans suspension for 'willful defiance'

By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:51:00 PDT

Zero tolerance policies adopted after Columbine lower achievement and disproportionately affect African Americans, supporters say.

In ground-breaking action, the Los Angeles Unified school board voted Tuesday to ban suspensions of defiant students, directing officials to use alternative disciplinary practices instead.

Monica Ratliff's election to L.A. school board is 'huge upset'

By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:14:00 PDT

The fifth-grade teacher's low-budget effort defeats Antonio Sanchez, who had $2.2 million spent on his behalf and was endorsed by the mayor's reform coalition.

On its face, the election this week of a Los Angeles fifth-grade teacher to the Board of Education was a stunner. Monica Ratliff's low-budget effort included her boyfriend, a film school instructor, as her campaign manager. She had no paid staff and no meaningful help from her own politically active teachers union.

Complaints filed against USC, UC Berkeley over rape reporting

By Dalina Castellanos, Los Angeles Times — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:31:00 PDT

Gloria Allred and students and activists say the schools, as well as two East Coast colleges, fail to follow federal laws including the reporting of campus crimes such as sexual assault.

Students and activists joined together Wednesday to file complaints against colleges and universities nationwide, alleging that the schools have failed to follow federal laws, including those involving the reporting of sexual assaults and discrimination.

Ratliff holding slim lead in LAUSD race

By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Fifth-grade teacher Monica Ratliff is narrowly ahead of Antonio Sanchez. Nancy Pearlman leads David Vela for community college trustee in early returns.

The race for an open seat on the Los Angeles Board of Education was close in early returns with Monica Ratliff ahead despite financial support and union backing that made her opponent, Antonio Sanchez, a heavy favorite.

Cal State moving to offer online science labs

By Carla Rivera, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:38:00 PDT

The web-based classes, a systemwide virtual campus and online advising are touted are remedies for 'bottlenecks' impeding graduation rates.

California State University is moving aggressively to offer web-based science labs, a systemwide virtual campus and online advising as remedies for "bottlenecks" that impede student progress and graduation rates, officials said Tuesday. Some of these efforts will be ready to roll out this fall.

Funding to L.A. magnet school restored

By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

L.A. Unified reverses a decision that cost a top-performing campus about $300,000 in anti-poverty funding after parents found evidence of a bureaucratic error.

School district officials have reversed a decision that cost a top-performing Los Angeles campus about $300,000 in funding after parents uncovered evidence that a bureaucratic error led to the loss of funds. Five other schools also are likely to get more dollars as well.

UC hospital strikers' numbers to be decided by court

By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:40:00 PDT

As patient care workers plan a two-day walkout at the five facilities, UC says it will do everything possible to ensure patient safety.

Patient care workers at the University of California's medical centers plan to stage a two-day strike next week, but the number taking part will be decided Monday in Sacramento County Superior Court.

Endorsements recap: The Times recommends

By The Times editorial board — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Our choices for mayor, city attorney, controller, City Council and school district seats and on ballot measures.

Garcetti or Greuel? No, it's not the grim menu choice at some tony Malibu spa; it's the question before Los Angeles voters on Tuesday as they determine who will lead the city as mayor for the next four, and possibly eight, years.

Little attention paid to race in huge community college district

By Carla Rivera, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:38:00 PDT

Incumbent Nancy Pearlman is being challenged for her L.A. Community College seat by David Vela, a political aide, in a low-profile race. The candidates have sharply different profiles.

An incumbent who styles herself as an outsider and a reform-minded community activist and political aide will face each other in a runoff election Tuesday for the final seat on the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.