John Fensterwald
Follow @jfenster EmailJohn Fensterwald, staff writer, joined EdSource in 2012. Before that, he was editor and co-writer for the “Thoughts on Public Education (TOP-Ed)” website, a leading source of California education policy reporting and opinion, which he founded in 2009. For 11 years before then, John wrote editorials for the Mercury News in San Jose, with a focus on education. He worked as a reporter, news editor and opinion editor for three newspapers in New Hampshire for two decades before receiving a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in 1997 and heading West. His wife is a retired elementary school teacher, and his daughter attends the UC Davis School of Medicine.
All articles by John Fensterwald
California School Boards Association abandons plan to put $15 billion tax on 2020 ballot
To avoid competing tax initiatives benefiting education on the same statewide ballot, it eyes 2022 instead.
John Fensterwald
December 5, 2019
California is poised to confront high proportions of underqualified teachers in low-income schools
Uncredentialed teachers are concentrated where students struggle academically; the State Board may soon have data to support a teacher equity index.
John Fensterwald
November 22, 2019
‘Moderate’ funding increase predicted for California schools, community colleges in 2020-21
A recession is still a ways off, says the Legislative Analyst's Office; mandated costs will eat into an estimated $3.4 billion increase.
John Fensterwald
November 21, 2019
Support for school construction bond falls below 50 percent in new poll
If there is confusion over the ballot designation Prop. 13, bond backers say not to worry; the campaign for March measure has yet to begin.
John Fensterwald
November 19, 2019
Pension costs feed resistance to higher school taxes in California county, study finds
An increase in mandated costs has frustrated voters in Marin County, where passing school parcel taxes had been a safe bet until 2016.
John Fensterwald
November 14, 2019
For better or worse, school construction bond on March 2020 ballot will be Prop. 13
Backers and opponents of a $15 billion K-12 and college construction bond are wondering if association with infamous Prop. 13 will affect the vote.
John Fensterwald
November 7, 2019
State audit finds education money not serving high-needs students, calls for changes in funding law
After examining three districts' spending, State Auditor Elaine Howle calls for tighter controls over Local Control Funding Formula.
John Fensterwald
November 6, 2019
Shorter, clearer (but maybe not more transparent) school accountability plan coming
The state board will deliver an LCAP template that will be easier to read, but it probably still won't be easy to follow the money.
John Fensterwald
October 31, 2019
Reading scores drop in California, most states in much-watched national test
Nationwide scores on NAEP stalled for a decade in 4th and 8th grade while California's slowly rose – latest dip in 8th grade reading notwithstanding
John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis
October 30, 2019
The value of social and emotional learning; Q&A with Tim Shriver
The longtime leader in the field says social and emotional practices help reach disconnected students and give purpose to learning.
John Fensterwald
October 28, 2019
One step closer to what no one wants: dueling tax plans in November 2020
Backers of two competing tax proposals begin gathering signatures; will Gov. Gavin Newsom negotiate a compromise?
John Fensterwald
October 23, 2019
Full-day kindergarten, STEM seal, Laotian history are among Gov. Newsom’s final vetoes
Here are a half-dozen K-12 and early education bills that the governor vetoed or signed on the last day crunch — and why.
John Fensterwald
October 15, 2019
California mandates later start times for middle and high school students
Gov. Newsom signed the bill delaying start times for teenagers against the opposition of school groups that said districts know best how to set schedules.
John Fensterwald
October 13, 2019
Gov. Newsom vetoes allowing districts to substitute SAT for 11th grade state test
In veto message, Newsom says giving districts the test option would widen inequities in college admission that the bill was intended to narrow.
John Fensterwald
October 13, 2019
Slow growth, big disparities after 5 years of Smarter Balanced tests
Average scores have been rising in English language arts, but dropping in math as students progress through middle and high school — a cause for worry.