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
Nursing students are eager to answer California's call to help stop coronavirus spread
California's need for nurses and physicians to fight Covid-19 could find help among graduating nurses and medical students but actions are needed to get them into the hospitals.
Ashley A. Smith
March 26, 2020
Some California college students find refuge on campus during a pandemic
Life may not be the same, but for some California college students staying on campus provides a refuge, especially for those with nowhere to go.
Ashley A. Smith
March 20, 2020
College faculty in California scramble to adapt as classes move to online instruction
Colleges and universities are cancelling in-person classes across the state.
Ashley A. Smith
March 13, 2020
Reinventing a California school under the threat of teacher layoffs
Stege Elementary in Richmond was primed to reinvent itself from one of California's lowest performing schools to one that helped its black and Latino students achieve academically. Instead, the school faces teacher layoffs.
Ashley A. Smith
March 10, 2020
California’s online community college to face state audit
Despite pleas to give the new online college more time, lawmakers approved an audit that will begin after July 1. A legislative leader said that should give the college enough time to prove its worth.
Ashley A. Smith
February 27, 2020
Calbright selects advisor to California's community college chancellor as interim chief
Despite continuing criticisms from community college faculty, Calbright takes on new interim president to lead the state's online only college.
Ashley A. Smith
February 11, 2020
High school suspensions, multiple schools affect foster youth as they enter college
New research finds these students had lower grade point averages than their peers because of barriers they faced in high school.
Ashley A. Smith
January 30, 2020
Mixed results for California’s experiment with community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees
Since 2016, California Community Colleges have offered bachelor's degrees. A non-partisan state agency report gives a mixed review of the 15 programs.
Ashley A. Smith
January 27, 2020
California unions sue DeVos for repealing ‘gainful employment’ rule
A federal lawsuit seeks to reinstate a federal rule requiring for-profit colleges to report the debt and earnings of its graduates.
Ashley A. Smith
January 23, 2020
President of Calbright College who resigned will be paid through end of March
Heather Hiles suddenly resigned this week after less than one year on the job.
Ashley A. Smith
January 16, 2020
California faculty groups revive criticisms of Calbright College
Calbright College's president will leave on March 31, leaving critics to revive questions about whether online college is needed.
Ashley A. Smith
January 14, 2020
President of California's online community college to step down
California's newest community college, aimed at helping "stranded workers" get needed job skills, enrolled its first students in October but now is seeing the departure of its president.
Ashley A. Smith
January 13, 2020
Reinventing a California school one teacher at a time
Community support remains strong despite little improvement.
Ashley A. Smith
December 20, 2019
Multiple school transfers contribute to high absenteeism among foster students
Foster students miss the most school days of any group of students in the state.
Ashley A. Smith
December 3, 2019
Two community colleges show how students can succeed without remedial math courses
Two California community colleges stand out in efforts to help students take for-credit math courses instead of remedial courses.