Ashley A. Smith
Follow @ashasmithnewsAshley A. Smith covered community colleges, for-profit schools and non-traditional students for Inside Higher Ed. She joined the publication in 2015 after covering government and K-12 education for the Fort Myers News-Press in Florida for three years. Ashley also covered K-12 and higher education for three years at the Marshfield News-Herald in Wisconsin. She has interned with The Flint Journal, USA Today and the Detroit Free Press. Ashley grew up in Detroit and is a 2008 graduate of Michigan State University. She joined EdSource in July 2019.
All articles by Ashley A. Smith
Financial aid application rates soar among California foster youth
A challenge to get California foster youth signed up for financial aid paid off. This spring, for the first time ever, foster students surpassed high school peers in applying for federal student aid.
Ashley A. Smith
July 15, 2020
CSU chancellor says system could go virtual for entire academic year
Forecasts of projected increases in coronavirus cases have forced some colleges to plan for the long term.
Ashley A. Smith
July 7, 2020
Calbright College survives in new California state budget agreement
The state’s spending plan includes annual funding for California’s only online community college but a loss in a portion of its unspent state funds.
Ashley A. Smith
June 23, 2020
California community colleges win suit over federal emergency financial relief
A federal judge has sided with California colleges saying that federal stimulus aid can not be withheld from undocumented and other students who fail to meet qualifications set by the U.S. Department of Education.
Ashley A. Smith
June 17, 2020
California foster youth face even more challenges amid pandemic
Homelessness, lack of technology and shuttered courts extend barriers for foster youth.
Ashley A. Smith
June 17, 2020
In historic reversal, University of California regents endorse push to end ban on affirmative action
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 would repeal Proposition 209 and restore race and gender as considerations for admissions.
Ashley A. Smith
June 15, 2020
Despite pandemic, one struggling California elementary school saw bright spots
Richmond’s Stege Elementary is on track for a redesign by the fall of 2020 to improve learning for its mostly black and Latino students. The school is slated to get new curriculums and teaching strategies.
Ashley A. Smith
June 12, 2020
Cerritos College opens California’s first housing exclusively for homeless students
Cerritos College opens state’s first exclusive housing for homeless community college students.
Ashley A. Smith
June 12, 2020
California Legislature pushes to close embattled Calbright College
Calbright College, California's new online community college, faces loss of state funds as the state legislature looks for ways to fund other education programs. Gov Newsom and the college's administration stand behind Calbright.
Ashley A. Smith
June 4, 2020
California college students fear pandemic will derail graduation, new poll shows
New poll reveals California college students fear pandemic will derail graduation. Students say they need more financial, academic and mental health services to cope with pandemic.
Ashley A. Smith
May 28, 2020
California’s college class of 2020 prepares for a shrinking job market
Class of 2020 graduates face disappearing job offers and internships. Amid historic job losses, students are urged to look for alternatives like graduate school and projects until hiring resumes
Ashley A. Smith
May 21, 2020
California community colleges sue education department over federal emergency financial aid relief
A federal suit filed in California claims that federal eligibility rules arbitrarily excluded as many as 800,000 community college students from receiving federal coronavirus assistance.
Ashley A. Smith
May 12, 2020
Some California colleges decide to offer all fall classes online
Amid a continuing pandemic, four California community colleges announce plans for an all-virtual fall term. UCLA offers students a choice.
Ashley A. Smith
May 3, 2020
Anxiety builds as California colleges consider how and when to resume on-campus fall courses
Students are anxiously waiting to hear plans for the fall semester as colleges in California and nationwide make plans that could include courses online, in-person or some of both with limits on numbers of students in classes.