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
Under half of students projected to test well
Projections released Monday predict that fewer than half of students in California and other states will score at grade level on tests next spring on the Common Core standards.
John Fensterwald
November 17, 2014
School groups ask to delay API scores
The State Board of Education, as expected, voted Thursday to move ahead in the spring with the new Smarter Balanced tests on the Common Core State Standards while leaving open, for now, the decision on what to do with the test results.
John Fensterwald
November 13, 2014
Financial aid protected some UC, CSU students
State and federal financial aid has protected low-income and some middle class families from state universities' big tuition and fee increases – but not enough eligible families sought help, a report from the Public Policy Institute of California concluded.
John Fensterwald
November 12, 2014
Opinions differ on impact of Tuck's campaign
In the hours since Marshall Tuck’s daunting but failed effort to unseat incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, education and political observers have reached different conclusions about the election and its significance.
John Fensterwald
November 6, 2014
Torlakson wins superintendent race
Tom Torlakson has won a second term as state superintendent of public instruction. The 65-year-old incumbent defeated Marshall Tuck 52.1 percent to 47.9 percent with all precincts reporting.
John Fensterwald
November 5, 2014
Voters pass Prop. 2, strengthen rainy day fund
Along with re-electing Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday, voters awarded him one of his campaign priorities: strengthening the state budget’s rainy day fund. Proposition 2 passed easily.
John Fensterwald
November 5, 2014
Superintendent race turns on future of reform
Donors to incumbent Tom Torlakson and challenger Marshall Tuck are spending record sums to influence what they consider is at stake in this election: the direction of education reform.
John Fensterwald
November 1, 2014
School chief candidates diverge on key issues
Tom Torlakson and Marshall Tuck agree on some key policies but disagree on some hot-button political issues. Here's a summary of where the two candidates for state superintendent of public instruction stand.
John Fensterwald
October 29, 2014
Charters plan for future growth outside state
Most of the $27 million in federal grants that four California-based charter school organizations received this month to expand their operations will go toward growing schools in out-of state markets.
John Fensterwald
October 23, 2014
Support for Prop. 2 inching toward 50 percent
Voter support for Proposition 2, a new version of a state budget rainy day fund, is increasing but is still shy of the majority backing that Gov. Jerry Brown will need to pass his signature ballot measure, according to a new poll.
John Fensterwald
October 22, 2014
Report urges revamping student testing
With a nod to California, a new report suggests overhauling how school and student success is measured in the United States. It says there should be far more emphasis on ongoing assessments of students as part of the regular classroom instruction.
John Fensterwald
October 21, 2014
Education groups withhold support of rainy day fund
Gov. Jerry Brown won’t have key education groups helping him make the case to voters for a bigger and more restrictive state rainy day fund. The most he can count on is they won’t actively campaign against it.
John Fensterwald
October 7, 2014
Tuck, Torlakson debate union power, lawsuit
Marshall Tuck and Tom Torlakson, the two candidates for state superintendent of public instruction, disagreed on the condition of education in California, the influence of teachers unions and who is best qualified for the job during a recent debate.
John Fensterwald
September 30, 2014
Volunteers can help frame Common Core tests
Teachers and others from California have until Friday to sign up for a crowd-sourcing exercise that will help determine how questions will be scored on the new Common Core tests students will take next spring. The deadline was extended to encourage greater participation.