LAUSD Governance Bill Passes

After hours of negotiation and discussion, the Assembly today approved Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's bid to gain partial control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, which is expected to face a court challenge. The Assembly voted 42-20 to approve AB 1381, which would shift most of the decision-making authority from the seven-member Los Angeles Unified School District board to the superintendent; create a council of mayors that would give a significant role to Los Angeles' mayor in managing the nation's second-largest school district; and give individual schools greater control over their budgets and curriculum during a six-year trial period. Villaraigosa would also have direct control over the district's three lowest-performing high schools and their feeder campuses. AirTalk guest host Ted Chen talks with KPCC reporter Tamara Keith, LAUSD School Board President Marlene Canter, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and Betty Glenn of the District Advisory Committee.