Emma Gallegos
Emma Gallegos covers equity in education and is based in the Central Valley. Emma has spent more than a decade in journalism, having worked at the Pasadena Star-News, LAist and Gothamist before returning to the Central Valley, where she grew up. Emma also spent a few valuable years in the classroom as a substitute teacher in the Bakersfield City School District. She also comes from a family of educators: her mom is a retired district administrator and her father was a superintendent and professor. Most recently, Emma worked at her hometown paper, The Bakersfield Californian, covering the Kern County education beat. She lives in Bakersfield.
All articles by Emma Gallegos
UC has enrolled more Californians, but lawmakers say it's not enough
The system has enrolled more in-state residents, but not enough to meet targets set by the state.
Emma Gallegos
March 13, 2024
Colleges overlook the potential of students who didn’t finish their degree, study says
Abandoning potential "comebackers" has major implications, not just for them, but also for the state’s economy, says California Competes.
Emma Gallegos
February 20, 2024
Most California high school seniors shut out of even applying to the state’s universities
An EdSource analysis found that Black and Latino students are the least likely to complete college preparatory course requirements.
Emma Gallegos And Daniel J. Willis
February 12, 2024
California School Dashboard released for the first time since 2019
The dashboard relies on previously released data, as well as new data released Friday, such as graduation rates and how many students met the entrance requirements to California universities.
Emma Gallegos, Zaidee Stavely, And Daniel J. Willis
December 15, 2023
Community college professors allege new diversity policies infringe on academic freedom
A group of professors is alleging that a new California Community College diversity policy amounts to a “loyalty oath” and “compelled speech” that runs afoul of free speech and academic freedom.
Emma Gallegos
November 3, 2023
Panel discusses how to reduce the dizzying cost of textbooks for California college students
Overall, students do better in classes when textbook costs are dramatically reduced or eliminated.
Emma Gallegos
October 27, 2023
AI, other education technology can infringe on rights of disabled, LGBTQ students, report warns
Civil rights groups called for federal guidance on how to protect students rights in the arena of technology, which they said is "even more urgent with the explosive emergence of generative AI."
Emma Gallegos
September 20, 2023
Gov. Gavin Newsom signs executive order for a master plan for career education
The order lays out the importance of building connections not just between different education agencies but also between educational institutions and employers.
Emma Gallegos
August 31, 2023
Orange County district pioneers new Korean American studies course for high school
A surge of hatred against Asian Americans during the pandemic led one educator to realize just how urgently the Korean American studies class was needed.
Emma Gallegos
August 31, 2023
Reaching kindergarten parents is key to addressing dramatic post-pandemic rise in chronic absenteeism, panel says
The key to solving chronic absenteeism in California schools? Parents of kindergarten-age kids.
Emma Gallegos
August 25, 2023
As a Central Valley foundation sunsets, it funds ‘cutting edge’ work for region’s multilingual students
The Central Valley — with a diverse population that speaks languages including Spanish, Punjabi, Hmong, Arabic, Filipino and Mixteco — is a crucial place to do the work of centering multilingual learners, advocates say.
Emma Gallegos
August 16, 2023
Community College baccalaureate degrees are key to expanding college access, panel says
A panel of experts discussed the promise of community college baccalaureates and barriers to expanding in California in a roundtable hosted by EdSource.
Emma Gallegos
July 20, 2023
Enroll every ninth grader in a college course, says incoming California Community Colleges chancellor
Right now, just 6% of California students take a college course through dual enrollment their first year of high school. The time is now, said incoming Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian, to make sure that all 436,192 of the state’s eighth graders will be automatically enrolled in a college course next fall.
Emma Gallegos
May 22, 2023
Gov. Newsom proposes increased funding for flood preparation, mitigation and recovery
Gov. Newsom announced a series of flood mitigation measures in the May revision of his budget proposal, totaling $492 million. None of those measures specifically addresses the unique challenges California's K-12 schools face when a community is flooded.
Emma Gallegos
May 12, 2023
A guide to earning college credit while in high school
This guide aims to give high school students and families an overview of college-level coursework in California for young students and its effects on college and careers.