L.A. Times - Education

No shortage of smiles at school picture day

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Students at Capistrano Avenue Elementary in West Hills pose and goof off. Demand for the photos is staying strong, despite the recession and the ease of at-home photography.

There were the fidgeters, the yawners, the blinkers and the slouchers. There were those who nailed it on the first shot, perfect posture and a sparkle in their eyes.

An anomaly in judging at Carson science fair

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Professors and researchers had to wow tough critics -- fourth-graders from Foster and Carver elementary schools in Compton.

The 200 judges at the biomedical science fair surveyed the exhibits, pursing their lips. They clutched their clipboards, rating the effectiveness of presentations on topics from DNA extraction to magnetic accelerators.

Chocolate milk: better than no milk?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

School administrators debate whether the vitamins are worth the added sugar. In Illinois, students organize to overturn a ban.

The dairy industry recently rolled out an expensive media campaign in praise of chocolate milk, a classic school lunch drink that's under assault for its sugar content. As trade groups spend upward of $1 million to defend the drink, three fifth-graders have come to its rescue.

UC regents approve partnership with L.A. County to reopen King medical facility

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The regents, some expressing concern about potential pitfalls, said they acted out of a moral imperative to aid the community for which the hospital was once a point of pride.

In a unanimous vote that sparked cheers of "thank you" from the audience, University of California regents on Thursday approved a partnership with Los Angeles County that clears the way to reopen the Martin Luther King Jr. medical facility in Willowbrook, possibly by 2013.

UC regents approve 32% student fee hike

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The decision was made with little debate after a lengthy committee discussion Wednesday. Thousands of students and labor union activists protested outside the meeting at UCLA.

With the chants of protesters wafting into their meeting room and armed police standing guard, the University of California's Board of Regents approved a 32%, or $2,500, increase in undergraduate fees Thursday, but promised more financial aid to keep needy students from dropping out.

State's school funding process is failing

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Anyone who has spent time in or around government, from the deeply embedded bureaucrat to the young policy wonk, knows that there are two important issues in funding a public program.

250 men get a voice at school in Watts

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:54:00 -0800

L.A. city officials are among those who read books to students for an hour at an annual event called Donuts With Dad. 'They were hanging on my every word,' one volunteer says.

Sherri Williams, principal of 99th Street School in Watts, said that almost every time she would call the homes of her students, she found herself talking to mothers.

L.A. County keeping sugary drinks around -- for now

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Supervisors approve health initiatives to improve the county's chances of receiving federal stimulus funds, but vote against a proposal to discourage the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

In an effort to strengthen their bid for as much as $40 million in federal stimulus funds intended for communities that promote healthy living, Los Angeles County supervisors approved a package of health initiatives Tuesday that included new community gardens and bike paths.

Villaraigosa, teacher groups vie for 4 schools

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Jefferson High is one of the campuses that both Los Angeles' mayor and groups backed by the teachers union have bid to run. Supt. Ramon Cortines will decide.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and groups of teachers backed by the Los Angeles teachers union will compete for control of four campuses, including Jefferson High School, as part of a groundbreaking reform initiative.

USC enrolls highest number of foreign students of any U.S. university

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The campus, which recruits heavily in Asia, had 7,482 international students in the 2008-09 school year. UCLA was eighth, with 5,590.

For the eighth consecutive year, USC enrolled the highest number of foreign students of any U.S. university last year, a new report shows.