Obama to visit L.A. school

President Barack Obama is expected to discuss his proposed budget with more than 1,000 Angelenos today at a downtown high school that illustrates many of his goals for education reform while highlighting the financial pressures facing Los Angeles schools. George B. Sanchez and Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

Miguel Contreras Learning Complex is touted as a model of urban-education reform for its smaller classes, increased autonomy and innovative programs - ideals delineated by the president in an education speech last week.

The school is also set to lose half of its teachers and a large portion of its administrators next year, and only half of its seniors graduate in four years. The contrast makes it challenging, said Monica Garcia, president of the Los Angeles Unified school board.