Private Charters Score Another Victory in L.A.

For the second time in LAUSD history, Los Angeles school officials are ceding control of one of their schools to private companies. Watts’ Jordan High School, a low performing “turnaround” school will be split into three campuses. The school’s 200 teachers will have to reapply for their jobs or find work elsewhere. Less than half are expected to be rehired. Teachers at the school had proposed their own turnaround plan to the district, which was rejected by Superintendent Ramon Cortines. The decision to turn over the school to private charter schools was made without consultation or consent by the teachers.

Green Dot and Alliance for College Ready Public Schools will run two of the campuses, while Mayor Villaraigosa’s nonprofit, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, will take over the third. I believe that only teachers in the Mayor’s school will be able to work under their existing contract with LAUSD.