Louis Freedberg
Louis Freedberg led EdSource as executive director from July 2011-April 2021. For more than two decades, Freedberg has analyzed and reported on local, state, and national education policy. Before coming to EdSource, Freedberg was the founding director of California Watch at the Center for Investigative Reporting. He spent 15 years at the San Francisco Chronicle, where he was an award-winning education reporter, Washington correspondent, columnist, and member of the editorial board. He has a Ph.D. in social anthropology from UC Berkeley and a B.A. in child development from Yale University.
All articles by Louis Freedberg
Berkeley High foils attack but schools still need help to keep students safe
Students at Berkeley High — and every other school in the United States — are being made to feel less safe by a Supreme Court intent on expanding “gun rights.”
Louis Freedberg
July 6, 2022
California education to be spared divisive statewide election battles this year
Education ballot measures that promised to be most divisive failed to gather enough support and signatures to make it to the ballot this year.
Louis Freedberg
May 20, 2022
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond on path to reelection
After two contentious and expensive elections in 2014 and 2018, this year's race for California state superintendent of public instruction seems to be generating far less interest.
Louis Freedberg
April 22, 2022
Post-pandemic, will community college students keep choosing online instruction?
As community colleges reopen for in-person instruction after the pandemic, many students are still opting for online classes though outcomes for distance learning are usually not as good as for in-person instruction.
Louis Freedberg
April 4, 2022
Belated but ambitious, California's 'cradle-to-career' data hub taking shape
Belated but ambitious, California's 'cradle-to-career' data hub is taking shape. The online planning and analysis tool will be at the fingertips of students, parents, educators and researchers.
Louis Freedberg
March 11, 2022
Lagging vaccinations for kids between ages 5 and 11 prove daunting for California schools
If much larger numbers of young California children are not vaccinated by next term, keeping so many of them out of school and in remote learning will be an educational and political impossibility.
Louis Freedberg
February 8, 2022
Addressing the crisis in arts and music education in California
Former Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner is leading an effort to restore arts and music education to a more prominent place in the school curriculum.
Louis Freedberg
January 12, 2022
Does Los Angeles Unified’s powerful school board contribute to leadership turnover?
No school board in the country is paid more than Los Angeles', and over the years it has become in effect a parallel power structure in the district.
Louis Freedberg
November 17, 2021
Why Los Angeles superintendent will step down after managing through pandemic
Superintendent Austin Beutner says pandemic played a role in his departure.
Louis Freedberg
April 22, 2021
California community colleges to offer limited expansion of fall in-person classes, chancellor says
Chancellor Eloy Oakley says remote instruction is likely in many courses, along with masks and social distancing.
Louis Freedberg
March 23, 2021
San Francisco superintendent's resignation points to ongoing turnover in school leadership
The pandemic heightens regular challenges superintendents face during normal times and adds to tensions with school boards and teachers.
Louis Freedberg
March 16, 2021
Gov. Newsom touts California as 'getting kids back in the classroom' in State of the State speech
Newsom says there is "nothing more foundational to an equitable society than getting our kids safely back into classrooms," cites major progress in vaccinating school staff.
Louis Freedberg
March 9, 2021
Miguel Cardona sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Education
Relative unknown figure on education landscape, Cardona will be sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday.
Louis Freedberg
March 2, 2021
In his own words: Dr. Fauci on the complexities of school reopening and vaccinations
Asked whether he would be comfortable going into a classroom and teaching, Fauci says “It’s tough because I’ve not been in that situation.”
EdSource staff
February 22, 2021
San Francisco puts renaming of schools on hold after ‘mistakes’
School board President Gabriela López said she wants “to provide more opportunities for community input.”