
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
Critics say Newsom's proposal for low-performing students fails most Black students
Black leaders are criticizing a compromise plan by Gov. Newsom as not doing enough to help close the achievement gap of Black students.
Emma Gallegos, John Fensterwald, And Daniel J. Willis
January 24, 2023
Tulare County passes $95 million measure to build a public university center for its residents
The new University Center, expected to open in 2027, will represent a major expansion of university-level offerings for Tulare and Kings counties — even if it is not a full CSU campus.
Emma Gallegos
January 5, 2023
Dual enrollment thrives in Central Valley area where few earn college degrees
Dual enrollment has a large presence in rural, Latino communities of Kern County.
Emma Gallegos
November 30, 2022
University of California disrupted as 48,000 academic workers continue strike
Many classes and programs disrupted across the ten-campus system as strike enters second day.
Emma Gallegos And Betty Márquez Rosales
November 15, 2022
Students call on State Board of Education to address safety, equity and mental health
Student representatives from across California made a series of policy and curriculum recommendations during a presentation to the State Board of Education on Wednesday morning.
Emma Gallegos
November 2, 2022
Study finds college president searches favor white men and offers strategies to change that
A new report outlines the way search for college and university leaders favors white men and offers solutions. It comes at a critical time when top positions are open at the helm of CSU and California Community Colleges and colleges around the state.
Emma Gallegos
October 31, 2022
CSU graduation rates tick up for some students, decline for transfers
Pandemic impacts university's 2022 completions. Campus closures may have hurt some graduation plans.
Emma Gallegos
October 28, 2022
Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action in admissions could affect California private colleges
California banned affirmative action in public higher education in 1996, but a case to be heard Monday in the U.S. Supreme Court could affect in-state private colleges and students seeking to attend college in other states.
Emma Gallegos
October 25, 2022
Fall undergraduate enrollment declines have slowed, but still ‘troubling’
College matriculation declines nationwide are steeper at four-year schools than at community colleges.
Emma Gallegos
October 20, 2022
Northern Kern County schools cancel after-school activities in response to spate of violence
Central Valley school districts are canceling events amid social media posts threatening violence in the community that have made the school communities uneasy.
Emma Gallegos
October 13, 2022
Once again, McFarland city leaders lobby the county to turn its library into a police station
Kenny Williams, McFarland police chief and city manager, said the Police Department is in dire need of space and modernization: “There is no explanation that anyone can give me that providing library service is more important than providing basic public safety service to the community."
Emma Gallegos
September 29, 2022
Cities and towns across California only get the libraries they can afford
California public libraries depend on local funding, creating wide disparities among communities across the state.
Emma Gallegos
September 20, 2022
Amid community pressure, county blocks McFarland's plan to convert library into a police station
Tapping federal Covid money and other local funds, Kern County rejected a controversial plan to convert the McFarland library in the small San Joaquin Valley town into a police station. The library is expanding its hours from two to five days.
Emma Gallegos
September 9, 2022
Charter schools favored by many parents who switched their children during pandemic, survey finds
Annual California survey of voters and parents describes top education issues.
Emma Gallegos
August 23, 2022
College or career? California invests $500 million in program that tackles both
School districts and charter schools can apply for grants, but so will regional occupational centers or a community college working in concert with local K-12 schools.