All posts by EdSource Commentaries
New system of support contributes to student success
Multi-tiered system of support helps educators solve problems before they become problems.
Al Mijares
September 13, 2017
California plan puts state on the right track to achieve academic goals for its students
Plan ensures maximum flexibility for California to continue its ground-breaking educational reforms.
Gary Toebben
September 12, 2017
California's education plan must be more transparent about student performance
State can support schools and districts without shame and blame while also showing clearly how students are doing.
Samantha Tran
September 12, 2017
California's education plan affirms commitment to local control
California's ESSA plan meets the federal government’s requirements while affirming the state's commitment to local control that allows teachers, principals and superintendents to meet the needs of our diverse students.
Michael Kirst
September 11, 2017
To judge teacher effectiveness, parents must look at the whole school
While your child’s teacher certainly matters, parents should care at least as much about the whole team their child’s teacher is working with, including the principal.
Tara Kini
September 6, 2017
With multiple challenges, rural schools warrant far more attention
Educators in California's rural schools face challenges that are different but just as daunting as those of their urban counterparts.
Carl Cohn
August 28, 2017
Data essential to ensure students are prepared for college and careers
California scored above the national average in reporting of college and career readiness data but there is still work to be done.
Lisa Gonzales and Shelly Masur
August 21, 2017
California must take steps to grow the bilingual teacher workforce
Teacher shortage limits districts' ability to expand bilingual offerings.
Vickie Ramos Harris and Shelly Spiegel-Coleman
July 12, 2017
California moves to expand K-12 computer science instruction
New state budget includes funding for two significant initiatives to expand K-12 student access to computer science coursework and instruction.
Trish Williams
July 5, 2017
Research shows transitional kindergarten benefit for English learners
English learners in transitional kindergarten show significant gains.
Deborah Kong
July 2, 2017
Destigmatizing suicide to save lives
As a society, we need to be more comfortable discussing suicide with children.
Takesha Cooper, MD
June 21, 2017
The multiple benefits of learning two languages
California has taken important steps to support dual language learners.
Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio
June 14, 2017
Ensuring access to summer learning for all students
Failing to invest in after-school and summer programs would undermine two decades of work to help communities close the learning gap for children of color, low-income children and working class families.
Jennifer Peck
June 12, 2017
At Cal State, algebra is a civil rights issue
A college degree can break the cycle of poverty. CSU must take steps to ensure that math requirements do not pose arbitrary and discriminatory barriers.
Christopher Edley, Jr.
June 5, 2017
California must do much more to invest in a strong teacher workforce
California is in the midst of a serious and growing teacher shortage and state leaders must invest in building a prepared and stable teacher workforce.
David Rattray
May 31, 2017
LAUSD election, new data provide momentum for charter schools
New research shows that charter schools are improving the achievement of the predominantly minority and low-income students in Los Angeles Unified School District.
Lance Izumi
May 30, 2017
California must save its successful after-school programs
If the state does not increase funding for these high-quality programs, up to 29 percent of them could shut down in the next two years, leaving more than 120,000 students with nowhere to go when the school day ends.
Connie Leyva and Anthony Portantino
May 16, 2017
Californians must support all students
As California's student population has grown and become much more diverse, teachers need support from parents, community members and lawmakers to ensure all students get the public education they deserve.
Eric C. Heins
May 9, 2017
Understanding teacher layoffs during times of teacher shortages
Layoffs are local, but teacher shortages are statewide.
Patrick M. Shields and Roberta Furger
March 23, 2017
It is up to states to ensure English learner and immigrant students receive a quality education
The simple answer: It depends on the actions of state and local policymakers where those students live.
Julie Sugarman
March 17, 2017
The yawning education gap
Is the recent acceptance by much of the electorate of “alternative facts” and gargantuan falsehoods a measure of educational failure in history, government and economics?
Peter Schrag
March 9, 2017
LA teachers union should focus on unity, not division
The best response to our current president is a vast increase in constructive, empowered, diverse and open-minded voices.
Mark Gozonsky
March 2, 2017
Schools can help students learn to spot fake news
Will California’s schools push back against post-truth politics? New research shows that it’s possible.
Joseph Kahne and Benjamin Bowyer
February 23, 2017
Placement tests land many students in a math maze instead of on pathways to success
At some CSU campuses, even passing the system’s math placement test or completing remedial requirements won’t ensure that students avoid remedial math.
Pamela Burdman
February 19, 2017
CSU needs more effective way to assess students' math readiness
Current placement practices may force some students into remedial math courses they don’t need, jeopardizing their progress through college.
Pamela Burdman
February 15, 2017
The Power of Two: embracing both proficiency and growth
To measure achievement, CORE Districts take into account both the number of students meeting standards and how much academic growth students are making each year.
Rick Miller
January 27, 2017
Teachers must be partners in shaping education policies
Teachers call on legislators for support in five key areas.
Ama Nyamekye
January 20, 2017
Oakland schools need a committed superintendent
Oakland needs a superintendent deeply rooted in the community who will stay on the job for the next 10 years.
David Kakishiba
January 13, 2017
Ending the No Child Left Behind Catch-22 on English learner progress
State Board of Education should change how the progress of English learners is measured to make the system more fair.
Linda Darling-Hammond and Kenji Hakuta
January 9, 2017
Schools must have a role in ending dating abuse
Schools can help teach teens about healthy relationships, train staff to recognize signs of abuse.
Kathy Moore and Patti Giggans
December 20, 2016
Removing obstacles to success in community college
Community colleges must better support students’ academic progression while upholding standards in college-level courses.
Olga Rodriguez and Marisol Cuellar Mejia
December 8, 2016
Honig says California's "build and support" strategy for schools will pay off
Former superintendent of California schools speaks to EdSource about school reform.
Louis Freedberg and John Fensterwald
November 10, 2016
More high school students deserve chance to take college courses
Students who have the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school have a greater success rate of continuing on to postsecondary education.
Teri Munger
November 3, 2016
Let’s close the education advocacy communications “gap”
Better communication could make education reform more effective.
Pat Reilly
November 2, 2016
Exploring new pathways to college completion
California needs to produce 11.9 million degrees by 2025 to remain economically competitive.
Lande Ajose, Harry LeGrande, Jamillah Moore and Wm. Gregory Sawyer
October 18, 2016
Making computer science accessible to all students
The K–12 computer science framework presents a national consensus on computer science concepts and practices.
Trish Williams
October 16, 2016
Strong, locally generated data key to school improvement strategies
Michael Kirst is President of the California State Board of Education and Professor Emeritus of Education at Stanford University.
Michael Kirst
October 9, 2016
The benefits of bringing controversial issues into the classroom
Research points to the benefits of high-quality discussion of controversial issues, such as growth in tolerance for other points of view, interest in politics and knowledge about the issues students investigate.
Judith Pace
July 27, 2016
Summer and after-school programs can promote social and emotional learning
Often overlooked, these out-of-school programs can play a key role in providing the kinds of relationships, supports and opportunities that are essential to social-emotional learning.
Jennifer Peck and David Plank
July 19, 2016
Closing the achievement gap: Will California’s reforms make a difference?
EdSource conducted a series of interviews with leading educators and scholars about the persistence of these achievement gaps and the prospects for the current set of reforms in California to help close them.
Louis Freedberg
December 22, 2015
LA charter debate offers opportunity to devise ways to ensure all schools succeed
The "proposal could radically alter the face of public education in Los Angeles."
Pedro Noguera
November 15, 2015
We can't give up on struggling students
USC Social Work and Public Policy graduate student Lisa Higuera connects stories from her childhood to today's push for school discipline reform.
Lisa Higuera
July 17, 2015
What's not on California's education agenda – and should be
We asked nonprofit education leaders what reforms they think should be added to California's agenda.
EdSource Commentaries
June 2, 2015
Schools must embrace the power of parents
School officials must "genuinely encourage" parent participation.
Ryan J. Smith
April 15, 2015
Restorative practices quickly cut suspensions in middle school
Standard School District Superintendent Paul Meyers writes how adopting a restorative justice approach reduced suspensions in a problematic middle school by more than 50%.
Paul Meyers
March 10, 2015
New standards and tests are worth the effort
Lower initial scores on the new tests should not be an indictment.
Gina Dalma
March 1, 2015
Expulsions and suspensions decline as schools shift strategies
New educators network focuses on effective school discipline.
Carl Cohn
February 17, 2015
The case for California's new integrated model for middle school science
California is taking steps to bring science back as a core subject in school curricula.
Trish Williams
February 16, 2015
How not to fix No Child Left Behind
Efforts to expand preschool and other educational opportunities could be at risk amid a debate over renewing America’s most important education law, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.