Local News in Brief : Another Walkout by Students in L.A.

Nearly 1,000 students at George Washington High School in South Los Angeles walked out of class Friday morning to protest the lack of progress in a contract dispute between the school district and its teachers.

The demonstration, the second such protest at a Los Angeles high school this week, was peaceful and ended after about 20 minutes.

At Friday’s demonstration, a number of students indicated support for Los Angeles Unified School District teachers’ demands for pay increases. But the students also expressed concern that they may suffer if the teachers do not file their fall semester grades with the district. Some students need those grades, due Feb. 3, to apply for college.

Teachers’ union officials have said semester grades may not be filed with the district if a settlement is not reached. But they have promised not to do anything that would thwart the students’ academic progress and have discouraged students from walking out of classes.

District officials have promised students that they will produce official grades and transcripts one way or another.