John Fensterwald
John Fensterwald, staff writer, joined EdSource in 2012. Before that, he was editor and co-writer for The Educated Guess 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 before receiving a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in 1997. His wife is a retired elementary school teacher, and his daughter is a neurology resident at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine.
All articles by John Fensterwald
California state board likely to adopt long-awaited ‘student growth model’ to measure test scores
The new method of tracking individual students' Smarter Balanced scores should provide a more useful measure of schools' and districts' progress.
John Fensterwald
May 3, 2021
Poll: Most Californians worry schools won't reopen fully next fall
In an annual survey on K-12 education, most voters approved how Gov. Newsom and their local districts handled schools during the pandemic.
John Fensterwald
April 29, 2021
California is offering no-cost rapid Covid testing and staff training to schools
The state bought 5 million test kits, which can produce results in 15 minutes, and will provide them at no charge and teach how to use them.
John Fensterwald
April 26, 2021
Veteran journalist Anne Vasquez named new executive director of EdSource
She will succeed Louis Freedberg who has led the organization since 2011.
John Fensterwald
April 21, 2021
New micro-scholarships in San Jose build bank accounts and mindsets for college
Mayor Sam Liccardo raises $6 million to pilot innovative program in which small “scholar dollar” awards can add up to $5,000 by graduation.
John Fensterwald
April 16, 2021
San Diego County judge declines to order two school districts to reopen on full-time schedule
A San Diego County judge has declined to order that two school districts that were sued by a parent group be required to fully reopen by a set date.
John Fensterwald And Betty Márquez Rosales
April 14, 2021
How California high schools plan to pull off ‘normal’ graduations
Ceremonies will be outside, probably in shifts, on a sports field with bleachers, or like Fresno and Natomas, in a big pavilion and minor league ballpark.
John Fensterwald
April 6, 2021
Teachers on Covid: lessons learned and advice to pass along
Many teachers agree that distance learning forced them to focus on what's important and to listen closely to the views of students.
John Fensterwald
March 30, 2021
Teachers reimagine schools and themselves post-Covid [VIDEO]
EdSource's Teachers Advisory Committee reflects on in-person instruction and their view of students and teaching.
John Fensterwald And Andrew Reed
March 30, 2021
California adopts CDC’s recommendation to reduce social distancing in school to 3 feet
The change could allow more students back to school for in-person instruction at the same time, reducing the need for hybrid instruction.
John Fensterwald
March 19, 2021
After 8 hours, 250-plus speakers, California board adopts ethnic studies model curriculum
The state board unanimously adopted voluntary guidance for ethnic studies with one addition, clarifying the role of “critical race theory.”
John Fensterwald
March 19, 2021
A final vote, after many rewrites, for California's controversial ethnic studies curriculum
The state model curriculum will provide guidelines, but districts will face the hard decisions on what and how to teach ethnic studies.
John Fensterwald
March 17, 2021
California schools to get $15.3 billion in federal aid under American Rescue Plan
Altogether, federal funding to the state’s schools from the CARES Act, a second round in December and the new plan totals $28.2 billion.
John Fensterwald
March 11, 2021
Newsom, lawmakers set April 1 deadline to reopen schools for K-2 students
Under the deal, $2 billion in incentives would require opening up all elementary grades and partially middle and high schools in the “red tier.”
John Fensterwald
March 1, 2021
California veteran teachers say they’re working harder and longer, often with little district help
Teachers surveyed report they’ve relied primarily on their colleagues and themselves to figure out teaching during the pandemic.