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
Michael Kirst's parting advice: more teacher and principal training is critical to success of local control
In an exit interview, retiring state board President Michael Kirst urges more attention to professional development for teachers and principals, discusses the need for more school funding, an expanded school database and a new agency focused on children's needs.
John Fensterwald
January 8, 2019
California education issues to watch in 2019 — and predictions of what will happen
Place your bets: curbs on charter schools, passage of universal preschool, more money for K-12, more teacher strikes and the resignation of Betsy DeVos; an untested governor and volatile president may affect the odds.
John Fensterwald, Yuxuan Xie, And Justin Allen
January 1, 2019
When $500 million career pathways’ grants ran dry, so did regional collaboration
The California Career Pathways Trust funded alliances among school districts, businesses and colleges that established hundreds of new career pathway programs, but regional commitments were hard to sustain, a study found.
John Fensterwald
December 6, 2018
Ratings in updated California School Dashboard target more districts for assistance
Two near indicators – chronic absenteeism and college/career readiness – debut and reemphasize the need to boost attendance of younger students and better prepare high schoolers for post-graduation.
John Fensterwald
December 6, 2018
California's graduation rate ticks up but, still, 1 in 10 high school students drops out
Despite steady overall progress, gaps among student ethnic and racial groups persist. The new data will indicate which low-performing school districts will receive assistance when the California School Dashboard is released next month.
John Fensterwald
November 27, 2018
Tony Thurmond names second in command at California Department of Education
Lupita Cortez Alcalá, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, will return to the state's department of education where she held key positions for a dozen years.
John Fensterwald
November 21, 2018
As economy booms, schools, community colleges can expect modest increase in Newsom’s first budget
The Legislative Analyst's Office projects that a 3.1 percent increase would cover little more than inflation, but early education advocates see potential opportunities elsewhere in the state budget.
John Fensterwald And Mikhail Zinshteyn
November 15, 2018
New California coalition agrees on next steps to improve schools, student achievement
The Alliance for Continuous Improvement releases a "GPS" guide that calls for improving on sweeping changes already in place: new education standards, a more equitable funding system and higher expectations for student success.
John Fensterwald
November 14, 2018
Most California school construction bonds, parcel taxes pass
Voters approved about 80 percent of 112 school facility bonds and 8 of 13 parcel but a lot of votes remain to be counted.
John Fensterwald
November 8, 2018
Tuck has thin edge over Thurmond race for California schools chief
High-spending campaign for a job with little power but a big megaphone comes down to wire.
John Fensterwald, Nico Savidge, And Mikhail Zinshteyn
November 7, 2018
Differences between Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond are real, as are areas of agreement
Whether it's clamping down on charter schools or changing teacher tenure, candidates can say a lot more than they can actually do.
John Fensterwald
November 2, 2018
Donations reach $50 million in race for California state superintendent of schools
Marshall Tuck has a more 2-to-1 advantage over Tony Thurmond in direct donations and $28.7 million in funding from independent committees.
John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis
October 28, 2018
Jerry Brown awaits his day in court on pension reform
The governor wants California Supreme Court to give public agencies, like school districts, the ability to change pension benefits for current workers in hard times.
John Fensterwald
October 25, 2018
A future in flux: what next for the California Department of Education?
Without a lot more money, the next state superintendent of public instruction must clarify the department's role under local control.
John Fensterwald
October 11, 2018
Small rise in California’s math and reading scores in 2018
There are signs of "encouragement" and "distress" in implementing the Common Core standards after four years of Smarter Balanced testing. There is also a dilemma: 11th-grade results.