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Charter Schools

September 4, 2012 by 2 Comments

Today’s post is authored by Sandra Tsing Loh, a writer/performer whose shows include “Mother on Fire”, “Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “I Worry.” Loh’s books include If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home By Now, which was named by the LA Times as one of the 100 best fiction books of 1998. She has been a regular commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and on Ira Glass’ “This American Life.” She is currently a contributing editor for The Atlantic Monthly and was a 2006 finalist for the National Magazine Award. Sandra has graciously allowed me to republish her Scandalously Informal Guide to the LAUSD.

(This is Part 5 of a 5-part series. Read the rest of the series here.)

I admit I am a traditionalist. Even in kindergarten, if my kids are not actually bleeding from the ears, I think some drilling, some memorization, and some homework is okay. Even at home, in reward for tiny little accomplishments, I’m all for busy little charts, stars, and stickers, particularly if I can remember where I put them.
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LAUSD Magnet Schools

August 31, 2012 by 2 Comments

Today’s post is authored by Sandra Tsing Loh, a writer/performer whose shows include “Mother on Fire”, “Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “I Worry.” Loh’s books include If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home By Now, which was named by the LA Times as one of the 100 best fiction books of 1998. She has been a regular commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and on Ira Glass’ “This American Life.” She is currently a contributing editor for The Atlantic Monthly and was a 2006 finalist for the National Magazine Award. Sandra has graciously allowed me to republish her Scandalously Informal Guide to the LAUSD.

(This is Part 4 of a 5-part series. Read the rest of the series here.)

So much is said about the LAUSD magnet system, so few understand it. To get you to Base Camp One of the Everest of Understanding, let me proffer another tale. This one is called:
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LAUSD Open Enrollment

August 30, 2012 by 5 Comments

Today’s post is authored by Sandra Tsing Loh, a writer/performer whose shows include “Mother on Fire”, “Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “I Worry.” Loh’s books include If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home By Now, which was named by the LA Times as one of the 100 best fiction books of 1998. She has been a regular commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and on Ira Glass’ “This American Life.” She is currently a contributing editor for The Atlantic Monthly and was a 2006 finalist for the National Magazine Award. Sandra has graciously allowed me to republish her Scandalously Informal Guide to the LAUSD.

(This is Part 3 of a 5-part series. Read the rest of the series here.)

Keening hysteria, all the wrong loans, divorce and bankruptcy. . . that is where the Conventional Wisdom gets you in L.A.

But for today, let’s dispense with the conventional wisdom and start opening boxes. At IKEA, the mystery boxes would have names like “Lol,” “Varknedink,” and “Klumspoof!” In the LAUSD, we call the boxes:

  • Open enrollment
  • Magnet schools
  • Charter schools

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    So What the Hell is an API Score?

    August 28, 2012 by 4 Comments

    Today’s post is authored by Sandra Tsing Loh, a writer/performer whose shows include “Mother on Fire”, “Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “I Worry.” Loh’s books include If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home By Now, which was named by the LA Times as one of the 100 best fiction books of 1998. She has been a regular commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and on Ira Glass’ “This American Life.” She is currently a contributing editor for The Atlantic Monthly and was a 2006 finalist for the National Magazine Award. Sandra has graciously allowed me to republish her Scandalously Informal Guide to the LAUSD.

    (This is Part 2 of a 5-part series. Read the rest of the series here.)

    Let us imagine your LAUSD school does NOT turn out to be a “hot” elementary like:

  • Carpenter (ooh!)
  • Ivanhoe (ah!)
  • Wonderland (insert appropriate Baby Gap-infused exclamation here!)

    • No, let’s say YOUR home LAUSD school (or the schools in the neighborhoods surrounding DTLA) has a name like (flugelhorn of alarm): “Guavatorina Elementary.” Which is to say, like so many LAUSD schools, its name seems to recall some obscure and slightly moldering Ecuadorian melon. And no one you know knows anything about it.
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    Scandalously Informal Guide to the LAUSD

    August 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

    Today’s post is authored by Sandra Tsing Loh, a writer/performer whose shows include “Mother on Fire”, “Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “I Worry.” Loh’s books include If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home By Now, which was named by the LA Times as one of the 100 best fiction books of 1998. She has been a regular commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and on Ira Glass’ “This American Life.” She is currently a contributing editor for The Atlantic Monthly and was a 2006 finalist for the National Magazine Award. Sandra has graciously allowed me to republish her Scandalously Informal Guide to the LAUSD.

    (This is Part 1 of a 5-part series. Read the rest of the series here.)

    March of the Middle Class Penguins
    Greetings, Hysterical Los Angeles Parent! Welcome to this, my Scandalously Informal Guide to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
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