KPCC: Stories by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

Green Dot Public Schools Chairman Steve Barr steps down

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:10:23 -0800

Green Dot Public Schools Chairman Steve Barr is stepping down from his position at the company to focus on national education issues.

LAUSD and teachers union agree to substitute teacher changes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:51:59 -0800

Los Angeles Unified and its teachers union announced Thursday they’ve solved a conflict over the school district’s approach to filling substitute teaching slots.

Poetic presidential speeches put to music

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:08:09 -0800

Through Saturday, UCLA is hosting a grand opening for its new Center for the Liberal Arts and Free Institutions.

Southland charter schools get funding windfall from Bill Gates

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:26:40 -0800

Software mogul Bill Gates announced today that his foundation will distribute more than $300 million in grants to improve teaching in public schools across the country. Gates pledged nearly one-fifth of that money to charter school operators who run dozens of schools in the Southland.

Committee approves 32% increase to UC student fees

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:56:33 -0800

Police arrested 14 protesters at a University of California Regents finance committee meeting at UCLA today.

15 year quest to honor Latino Medal of Honor recipients

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:39:12 -0800

The first Southland monument dedicated to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor is about two-thirds finished on a patch of grass next to Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Santa Ana mobile home owners protest high rents

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:26:11 -0800

People who live in a Santa Ana mobile home park organized a protest today against a management company they say is gouging them on their rent.

Tug of war over LA Unified reform models

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:52:09 -0800

Groups that want to take over governance of several dozen Los Angeles Unified schools have less than a week to apply. The process is part of a major policy change approved three months ago to improve education by handing over control of up to 300 low-performing and new campuses to groups that submit reform plans.

LA Unified officials celebrate new arts high school

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:07:18 -0800

Los Angeles Unified officials and elected leaders cut the ribbon Monday on Central L.A. High School #9, the district’s shiny new arts high school.

Medal of Honor monument going up in downtown LA

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:14:25 -0800

A first-of-its-kind monument dedicated to Congressional Medal of Honor recipients is about two-thirds finished in downtown Los Angeles.

Critics say LA pot dispensaries too close to schools

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:32:27 -0800

Los Angeles city officials have received complaints that dispensaries have opened up within a few feet of public schools. That would be illegal if the L.A. City Council approves new restrictions to regulate the city’s ballooning number of medical marijuana dispensaries.

Principals praise alternative teacher credentialing

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:02:29 -0800

An annual survey released today by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing gives high marks to beginning teachers who’ve entered the profession through fast-track alternative certification programs.

Parcel tax fails at Long Beach Unified

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:10:21 -0800

Voters in the boundaries of the Long Beach Unified School District on Tuesday rejected a parcel tax measure to fund public schools.

Steven Sample to step down from USC president post

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:34:59 -0800

After a nearly 20-year tenure that saw improvements in academics, finances, and sports, Steven Sample announced Monday he will retire before fall of next year.

SoCal arts groups get trickle of federal stimulus funds

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:13:36 -0800

The federal government says its economic stimulus package from earlier this year saved or created more than 600,000 jobs. A small portion of those funds went to arts organizations, including some in the Southland that used the money to save jobs.

Day of the Dead newest US holiday, new book argues

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:13:16 -0800

The Day of the Dead, the Latin American observance that takes place Monday, hasn’t displaced Halloween in the U.S. However, a scholar argues in a new book that the observance is becoming this country’s newest holiday.

LA Unified substitute teachers protest over job losses

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Dozens of long-time substitute teachers protested outside Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters Tuesday. They're angry about a deal struck a few months ago between teachers union leaders and district administrators that gives priority for substitute teaching jobs to about 2,000 beginning teachers the district had laid off.

Departure of LA Unified school construction chief causes concern

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Guy Mehula, the chief of the Los Angeles Unified School District's highly successful school construction program, has retired.

UCLA animal researchers step up efforts against protesters

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:37:26 -0800

Scientists at UCLA are stepping up their campaign against violent extremists and others who say there’s no human benefit from experiments on animals.

Furloughs shutter academics at CSU Fullerton

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:37:07 -0800

About 2,000 California State University Fullerton professors are taking unpaid days off three days this week, starting Tuesday. Severe budget cuts at all Cal State campuses are forcing all employees to take furlough days. Most other campuses are spreading out or staggering furlough days.