Judge OKs settlement that limits use of seniority in L.A. teacher layoffs [Los Angeles Times, 1/22/11]: Lawyers representing students' interests hail the ruling; the teachers union says it probably will appeal. See Fensterwald: Judge resolves L.A. layoff suit [Thoughts on Public Education, 1/22/11].

The Emergency in our Schools: Questions for Tom Torlakson [San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/22/11]: In November, former state legislator and science teacher Tom Torlakson became the new state superintendent of public instruction. It is the chief education job in California and it promises to be a hard one as schools grapple with another threatened round of budget cuts.

Gov. Brown calls education funding a civil rights issue [Sacramento Bee, 1/21/11]: Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday called education funding a civil rights issue, defending his plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies as necessary to reduce California's yawning budget deficit and to push more tax revenue to schools and public safety. On the other hand, read Meira Levinson’s post, “Why Education is Not ‘The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time’” [Education Week, 1/21/11].

Rethinking Evaluations When Almost Every Teacher Gets an ‘A’ [New York Times, 1/21/11]: Grade inflation — a term normally associated with students — is widespread among Bay Area teachers, who receive so many favorable evaluations that it is impossible to tell how well they are performing, some educators say.

Should teacher misconduct cases have a 100-day limit? [New York Times, 1/21/11]: Educators accused of wrongdoing should have their disputes investigated and resolved within a 100-day window, according to a proposal developed by Kenneth R. Feinberg, an arbitrator hired at the request of the American Federation of Teachers. The plan is aimed at improving a system that has been costly and embarrassing for schools and districts, and it could be used as a template nationwide. "I think it's thoughtful and a common-sense approach," AFT President Randi Weingarten said. "I think it's fairer and I think it's faster." You can read Feinberg’s plan. 

Lawsuit by La Habra teachers goes before judge [Orange County Register, 1/19/11]: A judge will decide the legality of salary freezes imposed on teachers by the La Habra City School District along with automatic deductions from teachers' paychecks to help offset a price increase in their health insurance plans.

Compton Parents: Teachers retaliating [Long Beach Press-Telegram, 1/19/11]: Two parent activists have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education's Civil Rights Office alleging they and their children have been victims of retaliation because they support a campaign to turn over a local school to a charter operator.

Justices Decline to Hear Challenge to Curriculum Guide [School Law Blog, 1/18/11]: The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to take up a legal challenge to how Massachusetts handled a curriculum guide on genocide and human rights. A federal appeals court ruled last year that a decision by the state education commissioner to alter the advisory curriculum guide in response to political pressure did not violate the First Amendment. The Court of Appeals decision is Griswold v. Driscoll.

Lodi Unified considering its legal options [Lodi Record, 1/18/11]: An in-house attorney could save the Lodi Unified School District significant money, newly elected Board of Trustees President George Neely said, prompting the district to explore opening a legal office.