John Fensterwald
John Fensterwald, staff writer, joined EdSource in 2012. Before that, he was editor and co-writer for The Educated Guess website, a leading source of California education policy reporting and opinion, which he founded in 2009. For 11 years before then, John wrote editorials for the Mercury News in San Jose, with a focus on education. He worked as a reporter, news editor and opinion editor for three newspapers in New Hampshire before receiving a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in 1997. His wife is a retired elementary school teacher, and his daughter is a neurology resident at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine.
All articles by John Fensterwald
Colleagues remember Delaine Eastin, the only woman to be elected state superintendent
From 1995 to 2003, Eastin successfully pushed for lower class sizes, new academic standards and the installation of school gardens.
John Fensterwald
April 25, 2024
Sharp divisions over how California's aspiring teachers will be taught to teach reading
Critics condemn the accreditation of a teacher preparation program they say ignores important new standards for teaching reading.
John Fensterwald
April 22, 2024
Public school choice exists in California, but few districts offer it
Fewer than 50 districts, mostly small, have opened their borders under the District of Choice; 30% of students in the program attend one district in the San Gabriel Valley.
John Fensterwald
April 11, 2024
Survey: Californians are worried about student health, lukewarm toward a state school bond
The annual Public Policy Institute of California survey on education issues found wide support for universal TK and teaching about slavery but divisions on transgender issues.
John Fensterwald
April 10, 2024
Nearly all school parcel taxes pass, but mixed results for school bonds in March election
Voters passed two-thirds of school facilities bonds on the ballot this month – less than the historical average for a primary election – along with 10 of 11 parcel taxes.
John Fensterwald
March 27, 2024
Don Shalvey, ‘fearless’ charter school pioneer and mentor, dies at 79
Shalvey created the state's first charter school, its first multi-school network, Aspire Public Schools, and left his imprint on the charter sector and its leaders.
John Fensterwald
March 18, 2024
California’s science test will be added to state school dashboard
Districts have been slow to implement the Next Generation Science Standards, and including the assessment on the portal could accelerate the pace.
John Fensterwald
March 13, 2024
UC professors' math problem: How does data science fit in?
UC math professors say introductory data science lacks rigor; advocates argue it's engaging math for non-STEM majors.
John Fensterwald
March 5, 2024
Legislative analyst projects bigger funding drop for schools, community colleges
The LAO warns that state revenues have worsened, compounding a looming shortfall for TK-12. School advocates criticize the LAO's prescription.
John Fensterwald
February 26, 2024
Property-poor districts demand fairer funding for school facilities
Lawyers representing organizations in property-poor school districts are pressing Gavin Newsom and legislators over a school bond for the November ballot.
John Fensterwald
February 22, 2024
Setting aside local control, legislation would mandate how to teach reading in California
Bill author Blanca Rubio and advocates argue research justifies setting requirements on choosing textbooks and training teachers on reading instruction.
John Fensterwald
February 7, 2024
'High-quality public schools' initiative pushed back to 2026 ballot
Litigation or the Legislature would define what constitutes high quality and the standards and resources to measure it.
John Fensterwald
February 2, 2024
California agrees to target the most struggling students to settle learning-loss lawsuit
Billions in state funding for learning recovery would reach students most affected by the pandemic, under tighter rules, in a deal to end Cayla J. v. California.
John Fensterwald
February 1, 2024
Newsom’s $8 billion fix to spare cuts to schools, community colleges may face tough sell
Key to not cutting education funding under the proposed budget is finding $8 billion in reductions outside of education in the future.
John Fensterwald
January 23, 2024
Advocates, education leaders speak out on Newsom’s initial plan for state budget
Many contributors credit the governor for sparing TK-12 and community colleges from cuts, at least for now; others urge different priorities.