A Level Playing Field for Transgender Students
In February, the California Interscholastic Federation adopted a progressive policy, which takes effect in the fall, under which transgender students must be allowed to participate on sports teams of the gender they identify with rather than the teams of their physical gender — after a panel reviews each situation to determine that the athlete truly is transgender. LA Times Editorial

Why We Need to Reform Education Now
To improve our schools, we have to humanize them and make education personal to every student and teacher in the system. Education is always about relationships. HuffPo Opinion (TED Talks Education)

Bill Aims to Help Expelled and Truant Students Get Back on Track
The purpose of a complicated bill aimed at preventing students from languishing in alternative schools became much clearer after the testimony of a former student who got stuck in one. EdSource

Leveling the Playing Field
Beach City schools stand to lose millions under Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to create a more equitable education system. Easy Reader

California Looks to Ontario Schools’ Reformer for Guidance
Michael Fullan may be coming soon to a school district near you.  The man credited with transforming the Canadian province of Ontario into one of the world’s most effective school systems is ready to help California do the same. EdSource

Lynwood Schools Take Part in State Pilot Testing Program
With California’s transition to the new common core education standards quickly approaching, the Lynwood Unified School District has been gearing up for the changes with specialized training and pilot testing that will prepare local schools for the switch to a new state standardized testing system, which is expected to take place in 2014-15. LA Wave

Special Education: California Parents’ Lawsuit Could Force Expansion of Programs
Initiated by dissatisfied Morgan Hill parents, a lawsuit that could vastly expand services for disabled students in California, and greatly increase the costs of educating them, is inching toward trial. Mercury News

Charter Advocacy Organization Calls for Independent Authorizers
A charter school advocacy organization has laid out its case for state lawmakers to pass policies that support using independent authorizers of those schools, an approach that it says is the best one for bringing both accountability and autonomy to the sector. EdWeek

Suspect Who Allegedly Brought Handgun to Canoga Park High School Arrested
A 19-year-old man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of bringing a handgun onto the Canoga Park High School campus, officials said.  The unidentified suspect was apprehended about 1 p.m. just outside the school’s agricultural area, Los Angeles Unified spokeswoman Monica Carazo said. LA Daily News
See also: LA Times