U.S. Department of Education studies up on LAUSD
LAUSD Investigated
The federal government’s Office for Civil Rights is launching its first major investigation into the LAUSD to find out whether the second-largest school district in the nation provides adequate services to students learning English. ESL students make up more than 220,000 students—about a third of the LAUSD. From their investigation, the office seeks to uncover policies and practices that result in a "disparate outcome" between ESL and non-ESL students. LAUSD superintendent Ramon Cortines says he welcomes the investigation, but other education experts question what power the government will have to change any disparities they do uncover. Enforcement options could include withholding federal money; more than 23% of the district's $7.16 billion operating budget comes from the federal government—but with the current budget crisis at hand, what can that change?
Guests:
Russlyn Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education—she’s heading up the Department’s investigation of LAUSD
Monica Garcia, president of LAUSD School Board
Thomas Saenz, president & general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund
Michael Petrilli, vice president for national programs & policy at the Thomas Fordham Institute for Advance Educational Excellence
- Patt Morrison for March 10, 2010
- U.S. Department of Education studies up on LAUSD
- "The Power of Half"
- Bank of America says goodbye to overdraft fees
- Laptops in the classroom - to ban or not to ban? That is the new question.
Also on this episode
Events
Comedy Congress Live
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
7:30 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
The comedic material emanating from Washington D.C., and state capitols across the country, is enough to make any sitcom writer jealous, even if most of that comedy is unintentional. Our motto on Comedy Congress is that just when politics makes you want to cry, it’s usually best to laugh.
... » More info
