Ashley A. Smith
Ashley A. Smith covers higher education and other student success reforms for EdSource. She joined the publication in July 2019 after covering community colleges, for-profit schools and non-traditional students for Inside Higher Ed, in Washington D.C. Her work has appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press, the Marshfield News-Herald, The Flint Journal, USA Today and the Detroit Free Press. Ashley grew up in Detroit and is a 2008 graduate of Michigan State University. In 2020, Ashley was selected to join the first class of journalists in the ECMC Foundation Higher Education Media Fellowship at the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, to report on career and technical education.
All articles by Ashley A. Smith
California’s new online community college to open after months of planning
California’s new online college opens to non-traditional students.
Ashley A. Smith
September 29, 2019
More California community college students entering, passing transfer-level math and English as result of landmark law
The new law, which takes effect this fall, aims to move more students out of remedial math and English classes.
Ashley A. Smith
September 27, 2019
Amazon expands ‘cloud’ training to Northern California colleges, high schools
Amazon Web, a subsidiary of Amazon, has teamed up with colleges in the state to help teach the skills needed for a growing number of in-demand jobs that require cloud computing.
Ashley A. Smith
September 20, 2019
Survey: non-tuition expenses hinder California college students
Survey confirms that non-tuition costs in California pose obstacles to students pursuing higher education.
Ashley A. Smith
September 13, 2019
California community colleges work to solve housing for foster youths
California community colleges provide some housing help for former foster youth
Ashley A. Smith
September 12, 2019
Initiatives underway for low-cost, free textbooks for California college students
California's public colleges and universities are doing more to provide free, digital or low-cost textbooks to students.
Ashley A. Smith
August 28, 2019
Struggling California school opens with fresh paint, new teachers and renewed hope
What's underway at this East Bay school could help other struggling California schools.
Ashley A. Smith
August 19, 2019
California’s new Calbright College faces questions weeks before opening
With eight weeks to go before the start of classes, Calbright College faces questions on whether it will be ready. Its new president says it plans to launch online and job training for 400 students.
Ashley A. Smith
August 6, 2019
California finds solution to save distance learners’ financial aid
California quickly creates a complaint process to save out-of-state online students' financial aid.