Vanessa Romo Education Reporter
Stories by Vanessa Romo
Can LAUSD race to the top?
By Vanessa Romo
For the first time ever, individual school districts may apply for the Obama administration’s competitive Race to the Top grants, which could be good news for LAUSD.
LAUSD sending too many kids to court?
By Vanessa Romo | The Madeleine Brand Show
A growing wave of juvenile justice experts say school districts send too many students to court for minor offenses. Usually those kids are African-American or Latino.
Activists launch recall campaign of LAUSD board member Nury Martinez
By Vanessa Romo
Fed up with LAUSD’s continuing budget cuts, angry activists have launched a campaign to recall school board member Nury Martinez.
Higher education in California faces continued budget crunch
By Vanessa Romo
If November's tax ballot measure fails, the University of California and California State systems would each receive $250 million less than they did this year.
Cal State hunger strike ends after 9 days
By Vanessa Romo
The students had been protesting against being hit with tuition hikes while top university administrators received salary increases.
The modern drama of snagging a prom date
By Vanessa Romo | The Madeleine Brand Show
Many girls and boys today expect their significant others, suitors, or crushes to stage an elaborate asking, an event unto itself that will become prom lore. And central to the meaning of such events is the presence and participation of an audience.
PTA opens state convention amid budget worries
By Vanessa Romo
California's PTA is using the Annual PTA Convention in Anaheim to push hard for its first ballot measure to raise money for schools.
LA Unified approves college prep requirements
By Vanessa Romo
After hours of debate and a couple of amendments, the LAUSD school board approved a sweeping plan to reduce credit requirements for graduation.
CSU faculty union protests trustees after weekend negotiations break down
By Vanessa Romo
The latest round of negotiations between California State University and its faculty union over a new contract has broken down with no new talks scheduled.
Critics argue proposed LAUSD policy will create more dropouts
By Vanessa Romo
Critics say the new plan, intended to level the playing field for Latino and Black students, could actually increase their dropout rate.
Advocates argue ticketing students creates drop-outs
By Vanessa Romo
Ticketing a 12 year-old boy for fighting in school may sound reasonable, but researchers argue that type of discipline just leads to future entanglements with law enforcement – and even to eventual drop outs.
CSU employees vote to strike if contract can't be reached
By Vanessa Romo
California State University employees have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a series of two-day strikes if a new contract cannot be reached.
Granada Hills Charter High wins 2nd straight academic decathlon
By Vanessa Romo
The academic decathlon team at Granada Hills Charter High School has done it again — it’s won a second straight national title.
More than 12,500 middle schoolers ticketed by LASPD
By Vanessa Romo
The police working for LAUSD are under fire again. This time it's over how many tickets they give out and to whom.
When the state won't pay, schools go DIY
By Vanessa Romo
Counselors, librarians, P. E. teachers — budget cuts have stripped them away from hundreds of public school in California. But not at Dorris Place Elementary.
