Ali Tadayon
Ali Tadayon covers West Contra Costa Unified School District and other K-12 issues for EdSource. Prior to joining EdSource at the start of 2020 as a Journalism Resident, he covered the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Emeryville, El Cerrito and San Pablo for the Bay Area News Group. Tadayon cut his teeth as a crime reporter at the Press-Enterprise in Riverside, CA and the Post Register in Idaho Falls, Idaho. His work has earned several awards, including two John Swett Awards from the California Teachers Association for coverage of the Oakland Unified School District. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
All articles by Ali Tadayon
How California districts seek to recruit, retain Black teachers amid shortage
California districts are using pathway programs to hire more Black teachers and taking other steps to retain them.
Ali Tadayon
January 21, 2022
Parents scramble for higher-quality masks for children amid nationwide shortage
Though experts say higher-quality masks are crucial to preventing the spread of the Omicron variant, few districts are providing those masks to students leaving parents looking for them.
Ali Tadayon
January 20, 2022
Several school districts push back vaccine mandate deadlines
Districts opted to push back their vaccine mandate deadlines rather than accommodate thousands of independent study transfer students.
Ali Tadayon
December 17, 2021
Thousands of California students still lack proof of vaccination despite deadlines
California school districts with strained independent study programs could be scrambling to find enough teachers for unvaccinated students.
Ali Tadayon
December 10, 2021
Proposed transgender restrictions at Chino Valley Unified fail after student outcry and state warning
An Inland Empire district's proposal would have excluded transgender students from facilities and activities for the gender they identify with.
Ali Tadayon
November 19, 2021
A Bay Area school district's plan to reduce violence through nonviolent means
West Contra Costa Unified is prioritizing teaching students the social and emotional skills they need to avoid violence.
Ali Tadayon
November 16, 2021
California districts anticipate major hits to their 2022-23 budgets as enrollments drop
School districts seeing major enrollment and attendance drops fear substantial funding cuts in the 2022-23 school year.
Ali Tadayon
October 18, 2021
Inside one California school's approach to reading as a 'civil right'
Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond is revamping its literacy program this year with a greater emphasis on phonics both in lessons and one-on-one intervention, as well as on classroom discussion and grade-level, culturally relevant texts.
Ali Tadayon
October 4, 2021
East Bay middle school renamed to honor local 100-year-old park ranger and activist
Renowned civil rights activist and National Park ranger Betty Reid Soskin spent her 100th birthday at an El Sobrante middle school that renamed itself after her.
Ali Tadayon
September 22, 2021
State superintendent sets goal to get all California third graders reading by 2026
State officials eye legislation aimed at addressing the longstanding issue of struggling early readers.
Ali Tadayon
September 22, 2021
West Contra Costa Unified and Oakland Unified poised to be first Northern California districts to mandate student vaccinations
West Contra Costa and Oakland Unified will follow Culver City Unified, L.A. Unified in requiring students 12 and up to get vaccinated to attend in person.
Ali Tadayon
September 15, 2021
Teachers face the challenges of returning to the classroom
Teachers talk about how they are building relationships, addressing technology burnout and teaching social-emotional learning as campuses reopen.
Ali Tadayon
September 1, 2021
Inside one Bay Area school district's first day of school
Teachers from West Contra Costa Unified will be reaching out to families one-on-one to address anxieties and ask about hopes for the next year.
Ali Tadayon
August 17, 2021
As new school year begins, a focus on social and emotional health
West Contra Costa Unified and other districts are emphasizing social and emotional learning and check-ins as students return to campus.
Ali Tadayon
August 13, 2021
California requires vaccinations or weekly Covid tests for all school staff
Teachers' and classified staff unions support governor's decision to require vaccinations or regular testing for school employees.