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One Thing: Deasy Survey vs. Stull Evaluation
Here’s the UTLA survey on LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy’s performance that’s going out this week: For comparative purposes, here’s the current teacher evaluation form used by principals to evaluate teachers (as part of the so-called “Stull evaluation”).
By Alexander Russo | May 2, 2013
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Analysis: Board Candidate Changes Position on Deasy (Again)
The LA Times‘ most recent education story tells you several things you already know about the District 6 (East Valley) School Board runoff, including recent contributions to the Coalition for School Reform account and the stalemate over the dual UTLA endorsements of Monica Ratliff (pictured) and Antonio Sanchez that “helps Sanchez by keeping UTLA on the...
By Alexander Russo | April 22, 2013
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Did Threat of Parent Trigger Help Haddon?
For the last two years, parents at Haddon Elementary in Pacoima have been gathering signatures for a parent trigger petition much like the one seen recently at 24 Street Elementary School. According to Parent Revolution, the petition drive gathered signatures from about a third of all parents. But in January, parents voted to put the process...
By Hillel Aron | April 22, 2013
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Audio: Organizers Talk Parent Trigger Pros & Cons
There were lots of interesting tidbits thrown out during the Yale School of Management education summit session on community mobilization held earlier this month in New Haven, and no shortage of quips from panelist organizers Jeremiah Kittredge and Derrell Bradford, Kristen Wiegand, and Derwin Sisnett (moderated by Suzanne Tacheny Kubach). But the conversation at the end about the...
By Alexander Russo | April 19, 2013
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Analysis: Worried Teachers, Union Publicity Stunt
Most of the news coverage surrounding last week’s union straw poll on LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy focused on the whopping 91 percent of teachers who expressed “no confidence” in his leadership and treated the result as if it had some sort of real-world impact. What got left out or minimized along the way was the...
By Alexander Russo | April 17, 2013
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Commentary: “A More Transparent Union”
This is a guest commentary written by Viviana Sosa, a former LAUSD teacher, chapter chair, and House of Representatives member who joined the staff of Educators for Excellence Los Angeles a little over a year ago: I grew up and went to school in South Los Angeles. I became a teacher in the same types of schools...
By LA School Report | April 10, 2013
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Two More “Parent Triggers” in the Works
Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., the decision of the parents over the fate of 24th Street Elementary School is scheduled to be announced at a park near the school. The decision will be based on a vote of the 369 parents who signed the original parent trigger petition, according to the LA Weekly. Whichever of the...
By Alexander Russo | April 9, 2013
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The “Ineffective” Teachers Game
A recent New York Times article about states and districts finding that just two to six percent of teachers are rated ineffective (Curious Grade for Teachers: Nearly All Pass) — even using new student achievement data has set off a ton of chatter online about whether that percentage is too low, too high, just about...
By LA School Report | April 1, 2013
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Parent Revolution Praises Teachers Union
“UTLA has treated the parents, the process, and the law with respect. They deserve real credit for their actions in this regard, and we recognize and appreciate the professional nature in which they have approached this important effort.” – Blog post from Parent Revolution (read full text here) Previous posts: You Say You Want a Revolution; Contrasting Reactions...
By LA School Report | March 18, 2013
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Listen: Politics 101 For Teachers
Start your week off listening to this panel discussion about politics, policy, and advocacy from last week’s 20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference in San Diego. Featured panelists include Daniela Kim, a teacher with PUC Schools and a member of Teach Plus, Brian Johnson, former Assembly candidate and current VP of Leadership For Educational Equity, and Joshua...
By LA School Report | March 18, 2013