A report by a committee chaired by LAUSD Board of Education member Monica Ratliff found that LAUSD’s iPad program has issues with planning, transparency, and bidding problems. ; Credit: Photo by Lexie Flickinger/Brad Flickinger via Flickr Creative Commons
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy has suspended contracts with Apple and Pearson following criticism and investigation into L.A. schools’ use of iPads in the classroom.
The $1 billion program faced scrutiny from critics since its implementation last year, and has recently come under fire after a committee of LAUSD staff, parents, and teachers found that the bidding process may have favored Apple and Pearson. In a memo to the Board of Education, Supt. Deasy said that LAUSD will halt its contract with Apple and subcontract with Pearson and restart the process of fulfilling the need for technology in the classroom.
How will students, teachers, and parents react to changes to the iPad program? What’s the best way to proceed?
Guests:
Annie Gilbertson, KPCC Education Reporter
Mónica García, represents Board District 2, including South LA, Echo Park, and Downtown, in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Colleen Schwab, secondary vice president of UTLA
Scott Folsom, parent leader in LAUSD, past president of Los Angeles’ 10th District PTA, represents the PTA on the LAUSD Construction Bond Citizens Oversight Committee
Brandon Martinez, assistant professor of clinical education Rossier School of Education at USC