Westchester schools opt out

Parents and teachers at Westchester schools opted out of the Los Angeles Unified School District's chain of command in landslide votes that could augur more defections in January.

The schools are signing up for a five-year partnership with Loyola Marymount University - known as the Family of Schools - to improve achievement and draw local students back to LAUSD classrooms.

The district would still collect per-pupil funding, but schools would gain more decision-making powers over curriculum, budget and hiring.

Also, the schools would not answer to administrators at Local District 3.

For more, read Paul's story.