The Department of Justice on Student Suspensions

By Larry Sand
01/21/2014
A recent memo accuses educators of racial discrimination while failing, with a few exceptions, to address the real problems. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a series of guidelines regarding the suspension of students from school. In short, though partially correct, the DOJ report is misguided, misleading, and missing key elements relevant...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, City Journal, Larry Sand, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Education Association, racism, RiShawn Biddle, seniority, teachers union, tenure, Vergara v California, zero tolerance

“Hey, Deasy, baby, I want my money.”

By Larry Sand
11/19/2013
Los Angeles teachers demand a raise, but their appeal to the public is embarrassing and more importantly, misses the big picture. Claiming that teachers have not received a raise since 2007, the United Teachers of Los Angeles held a protest rally last Wednesday. As reported by Ryan White in LA School Report, “Hey, Deasy, baby,...

TAGS: Andrew Biggs, Andrew Coulson, Eric Hanushek, Jason Richwine, John Deasy, LA School Report, Larry Sand, Los Angeles Unified School District, Mike Petrilli, National Council on Teacher Quality, teacher pay, teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles, wage compression

Dump the Masters Bump

By Larry Sand
10/15/2013
Advanced degrees for teachers have no bearing on student learning. Last week, The Wall Street Journal brought to a national audience the news that lawmakers in North Carolina have done away with automatic pay increases for teachers who have master’s degrees. North Carolina is the latest state to get rid of the “masters bump,” following...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress, Larry Sand, LAUSD, Los Angeles Unified School District, National Council on Teacher Quality, Randi Weingarten, teachers unions, TNTP, Tom Kane

You Don’t Need a Weatherman to Know Which Way the Union Wind Blows

By Larry Sand
06/14/2011
Twenty years of schooling in Los Angeles and you’re lucky if you can get any job, let alone one on the day shift. Bob Dylan penned the words in the headline (sans the union part) almost a half century ago but having been quoted by many, they live on. The latest example of the lyrics’...

TAGS: A.J. Duffy, Bill Gates, California Teachers Association, National Council on Teacher Quality, United Teachers of Los Angeles