Ashley A. Smith
Follow @ashasmithnewsAshley 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.
All articles by Ashley A. Smith
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.
Ashley A. Smith And Michael Burke
April 30, 2020
Students sue California universities over fees lost amid pandemic
California students have filed a federal lawsuit seeking refund of fees paid for services shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ashley A. Smith
April 28, 2020
California students expect stimulus money will help pay living expenses
Each campus determines who can access the funding, and some are developing applications so students can apply for the aid.
Ashley A. Smith
April 24, 2020
Undocumented students excluded from federal emergency financial aid relief
The Trump administration has ruled that undocumented students are not eligible to receive any of the federal stimulus funds aimed at helping college students deal with the impact of the pandemic.
Ashley A. Smith
April 22, 2020
California colleges and universities share in $1.7 billion in emergency stimulus funds
The federal stimulus bill will pump $1.7 billion to California’s colleges and universities to cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. At least half of that money will go directly to students.
Ashley A. Smith And Larry Gordon
April 9, 2020
New California nursing waiver will allow some students to complete training, but leaves others out
Waiver will allow those close to graduation to complete hands-on training by using virtual simulation, but still requires half of clinical training that many hospitals are not providing.
Ashley A. Smith
April 5, 2020
California nursing students to assist in coronavirus fight
Many nursing students and instructors said they want the nursing board to waive some of its requirements for graduation.