Common Core Takes Over in LAUSD

Last week, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) debated the funding of Common Core, deciding to delay approval on the proposed $113 million implementation budget. The board waited a week to decide, over the objections of board members who wanted the approval as rushed as the rest of Common Core has been.

LAUSD Instructional Chief Jaime Aquino resigned over the situation, saying “The current climate doesn’t allow me to lead an agenda that is in the best interest of kids.” Taking an extra week to think through a major overhaul hardly seems resignation-worthy. 

Maybe Aquino didn’t need to resign after all, as funding was approved last night in a 6-1 vote, and Common Core implementation will go ahead in Los Angeles.

The lone dissenting vote was former teacher, who argued last week for more local control. “My two cents is that we should move $24 million for teacher advisors into local control and allow schools to make those decisions for themselves.” Local control? That’s a tough sell in the world of Common Core.

Last night’s debate took more than two hours, and compromise went by the wayside. The new budget provides $25 million to promote 162 teachers to coaches (to teach the teachers how to teach), $15 million for other teacher training, $10 million for summer school, and money for administrative positions and technology. There will also be $70 per student allotted to address any other specific needs that come up. This budget means hiring nearly 200 people and spending an awful lot of money in a state that doesn’t have it. Taking a week to think about it hardly seemed radical.