Top Education Stories of 2019

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1. The Los Angeles Teachers Strike

The year began with a teachers strike whose decisive victory by the United Teachers L.A. led to school district concessions on class-size reduction and on hiring more nurses, librarians and counselors. It also opened the door to a long-forestalled policy debate about the regulation of charter schools — both in Los Angeles and in California. Capital & Main’s reporting included team coverage led by “Learning Curves” columnist Bill Raden, a video diary by Marco Amador and a photo essay by Joanne Kim.

Bill Raden: “Perhaps the most remarkable, albeit symbolic win by United Teachers LA negotiators, was to persuade Los Angeles schools superintendent Austin Beutner to put a resolution for a charter school cap to a vote at the city’s next school board meeting.”

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2. L.A. Charters Suspend Black and Disabled Students at Higher Rates

Robin Urevich: “Los Angeles charters suspended black students at almost three times the rate of traditional schools; students with disabilities were suspended at nearly four times the non-charter school rate.”

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3. Have West Sacramento Charters Become Self-Segregated Enclaves? (Part of the Grading Charter Schools series)

 Bill Raden: “Borders, boundaries and barriers have been a way of life in the lower Sacramento Valley since the Gold Rush days. The newest form of green line here is charter schools.”

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4. Referrals of Students to Police Are Still a Problem at L.A. Schools

Robin Urevich: “Restorative justice remains a new way of thinking for Los Angeles’ 1,300 public schools — even as administrators continue to call the cops on troublesome students.”

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5. Jackie Goldberg Explains the Coming War to Save Public Education

Alex Demyanenko: “After winning a Los Angeles school board seat, Goldberg spoke about charter schools, money and what it means to fight the good fight.”

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6. Tipping Points: Are Charter Schools Oversaturating Their Markets?

Larry Buhl: “Studies have found charter school glut and hyper-competition in many neighborhoods.”

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7. California Ramps Up College Education Behind Bars

Gabriel Thompson: “Prisons have been called universities of crime. What if they became, instead, actual universities?”

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8. When Charter Schools Fail, Parents Are Left Scrambling

Larry Buhl: “There has been no shortage of charter school failures in California, and the rate of abrupt school closures is very high across the nation.”

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9. A Charter School Co-Location Debacle

Joe Rihn: “Armed with a state override of its rejected application, San Jose’s Promise Academy filed a new request. Then came the lawsuits.”

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10. Is LAUSD Crying Wolf With Its Claims of Financial Distress?

Bill Raden: “Persistent claims of poverty by Los Angeles’ public school district have been the most contentious issue separating it and the teachers union.”

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Photo credits: Joanne Kim (top image); Bill Raden (Nos. 2, 3 & 5); California Correctional Institution (No. 7); San Jose Unified School District (No. 9); Bobbi Murray (No. 10).

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