School Panel Defers Cutbacks

A Los Angeles Board of Education committee agreed Thursday that a proposal to cut $2.5 million from the district’s independent study program needs further study and postponed action until next month.

Board members said they were not sure that the cuts to City of Angels Independent Study School were necessary and they expressed concern over a proposed overhaul of the program, one of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s dropout prevention efforts.

Students, parents and teachers packed the meeting at district headquarters to protest the proposed cuts, fearing that the reductions would dismantle the program. City of Angels offers an independent study program around the city for students who are at risk of dropping out because of school problems, pregnancy or child-care issues.