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
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.
Ashley A. Smith
November 15, 2019
Frustration surfaces over redesign at East Bay school
Frustration with the pace of redesign surfaces at Stege Elementary, selected for an overhaul as one of California's lowest-performing schools.
Ashley A. Smith
October 17, 2019
Gov. Newsom signs bills to expand college student aid, target admissions scandal
New laws also ease dual-enrollment for adults and high schoolers.
Ashley A. Smith
October 4, 2019
Hundreds sign up for the new Calbright College
Calbright, California's new online community college, enrolled hundreds of students on its first day. Its enrollment goal is 400.
Ashley A. Smith
October 1, 2019
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.