In L.A., Tensions Rise Over Teacher-Misconduct Investigations

A high-profile lawsuit targeting the Los Angeles school district highlights the collision of two little-known, murky areas of teacher policy: the district's process for investigating teachers accused of misconduct, and the state's rules for dismissing a teacher found guilty of it.

The suit, filed this month, charges that the district has unfairly targeted veteran teachers on trumped-up claims of misconduct. It is being brought by the nationally prominent teacher Rafe Esquith, who was recently fired by the school board after a district investigation leveled charges of personal misconduct. The exact charges have not been released, but the investigation had reportedly ...