L.A. Teachers Union to Get Priority on New Campuses

Los Angeles Unified School District gives teachers and administrators priority in submitting plans ahead of charter groups.

The Los Angeles Board of Education has made a major change in its controversial policy that allows charter groups and other outsiders to take over new campuses. The board unanimously agreed Tuesday to give teachers and administrators first chance at those schools, writes Jason Long at the Los Angeles Times.

The rules remain the same for existing, low-performing schools; any group can compete for those campuses. And if inside groups’ plans are unacceptable, then charter operators and others can then apply.

Since the policy began, 11 charter schools won bids to run new district campuses and one existing campus is being operated by a charter organization. About 40 campuses are operated by inside district groups, mainly led by teachers.

Supporters of charter schools say they give parents another option besides traditional public schools, while critics contend they cherry-pick the best students and avoid serving children with special needs.

Tuesday’s vote came after a series of last-minute amendments and unusual public deal-making during a contentious board meeting. The board considered two other resolutions before finally approving the final version offered by Tamar Galatzan and amended by Richard Vladovic, writes Long.

The board was initially set to consider a proposal by board member Steve Zimmer, who questioned why charter organizations have shown little interest in bidding for existing campuses and instead focused on new schools.

“If choice is held with this almost religious fervor at our new facilities, how could it be so unimportant at our schools with the greatest need?” he said.

Board member Bennett Kayser tried unsuccessfully to get the board to go further: he proposed that all new campuses be excluded from the Public School Choice program.

The teachers union has long been opposed to charters winning control of new campuses. The union sued the district last year to try to block charters from those schools but was unsuccessful.

Charter operators were disappointed by the board action.

“It’s pretty much the death of Public School Choice as a collaboration with outside partners,” said Judy Burton, the president of the Alliance College-Ready Public Schools.

This comes at a good time for Los Angeles Unified. Tests results that were released last week shows students at Los Angeles schools continued making steady academic progress as a record number of district campuses meet a key state performance goal, writes Connie Llanos at the Contra Costa Times.

Los Angeles Unified scored 728 on the Academic Performance Index this year, an increase of 19 points from last year and the largest gain of any urban district in California.

This year, one-third of LAUSD schools met that coveted state goal, more than ever before.