SUPERVISORS QUESTION CLOSING OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS + Ed Politics 101: LACOE – who knew?

by Carla Rivera | LA Times

July 13, 2010 |  5:08 pm - Los Angeles County officials want to know why nearly two dozen alternative schools were closed on short notice last month, uprooting hundreds of students who are on probation and others who cannot attend traditional schools.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education on June 30 shut down 22 community day schools and independent study programs that had been attended by more than 700 students, citing low enrollment and budget constraints.

Education officials said they are working to help students find other options, including returning them to high schools closer to their homes and reopening some programs in county probation offices.

But at its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors asked Office of Education Supt. Darline P. Robles to report back in 30 days to explain the rationale for closing the schools and to consider ways to reopen them in the fall.

Robles said education officials are working with several local school districts, including Los Angeles Unified, to share the costs of operating the alternative programs.

●● Ed Politics 101:  LACOE – who knew?

by smf for 4lakids

• The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is run by the County Board of Education. LACOE is the largest regional educational  entity in the nation. In addition to overseeing/playground supervision of every school district in the county, they run their own schools – including alternative schools, county probation schools and camps, Regional Occupational Centers,  juvenile hall schools, The LA County High School for the Arts, etc. The decision to close the schools in this story was ultimately a decision by the County Board of Education.
• Dr. Robles, the County Superintendent,  was appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the County Board of Supervisors. There are 58 County Superintendents in California. 53 County Superintendents are elected; 5 are appointed.
• LA County is unique in California in that the County Board of Ed is appointed by the Board of Supervisors rather than elected – as they are in the other 57 counties. The County Board of Education also serves at the pleasure of the supervisors.