Former New York City Chancellor Ramon Cortines was named deputy mayor for youth, education, and families by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa yesterday, as the mayor tries to create enough political inertia to save his plan to assume control of the city's public school system.

(I've spent a good chunk of time in L.A. the last few months, and there is a LOT of maneuvering going on - particularly in Latino communities - that could make the next few weeks, months, and years interesting to watch. Could it even end up answering Mickey Kaus' question about whether or not there is a shifting paradigm within the Democratic Party on ed issues?)

You can read about one sliver of what is happening out there in this dispatch I provided for Education Sector looking at the phenomenon that is Green Dot Public Schools, a fascinating charter school operator that has its sights set very high.