Villaraigosa challenges LAUSD

Dissatisfied with the pace of reform at local schools, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pleaded directly to Los Angeles Unified school board members Thursday to stop "biting at the edges" of reform and take bolder action.Conniei Llanos in the Daily News.

Villaraigosa is pushing for the district to overhaul its School Choice plan that allows nonprofits, teacher groups and charters to bid to run some of the district's newest or lowest-performing schools.

The mayor, who helped elect a majority of the school board, said he was appealing directly to board members because Superintendent Ramon Cortines had "summarily dismissed" his recommendations.