CAMPUS: District offers alternative schools 25,000 classroom spots, but some contend that's not enough.
By Connie Llanos/Los Angeles Daily News
Los Angeles Unified officials unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to offer an unprecedented 25,000 classroom seats to 81 charter schools on district campuses, although charter advocates argued the proposal does not comply with state law. LAUSD has historically struggled with sharing its facilities with the independently run alternative schools. Charter advocates have sued the district twice for failing to comply with Proposition 39, which states that district facilities must be shared "fairly among all public school pupils, including those in charter schools." District officials made this latest offer of space, considered preliminary until April, to comply with Prop. 39. It would be the largest offer ever made by LAUSD, which houses the largest concentration of charter campuses in the nation. "The look of this district is changing," said LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines. "And that is a good thing because we're trying to provide parents with more educational opportunities." Charter school advocates, however, hope to see major changes to the district's proposal. (more...)