L.A. teachers union sues over district's charter school plans

From The Los Angeles Times: The union representing Los Angeles teachers has sued to block the district from handing over new schools to charter operators as part of the district's education-reform strategy. The school board has approved turning over 12 long-struggling campuses and 18 new ones to bidders from inside or outside the district, including some charter operators. The union contends that under state law a new school can become a charter only if at least 50 percent of its permanent teachers petition for it. The union argues a new school must be staffed by district teachers who would then have the option of converting it to a charter. Under the district's plan, a charter could move into a new school and hire its own faculty.