Theresa Harrington
Theresa covers Oakland Unified and West Contra Costa Unified, among other topics. She came to EdSource from the Contra Costa Times/Bay Area News Group, where she covered regional, statewide and national education issues. She has been recognized with multiple awards for her education reporting by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club and the California Teachers Association among others. She began her career as a producer managing children’s and other educational programming and print outreach for KQED. Theresa is an alumna of San Francisco State University where she received a B.A. degree in broadcast communications.
All articles by Theresa Harrington
Oakland school board closes meeting to public, citing protests
No protesters showed up, prompting some critics to allege the board violated open meeting laws in its attempt to prevent disruptions.
Theresa Harrington
November 8, 2019
Oakland Unified moves forward with school closures despite protests
District officials offer to meet with protesters as Oakland and state teachers' unions echo demands for school closure moratorium until 2022.
Theresa Harrington
November 4, 2019
East Bay district struggles with role of tutors in student learning
Bay Area district saved some tutor positions at reduced hours after critics said eliminating the positions would hurt the neediest students.
Theresa Harrington
October 21, 2019
Oakland offers students of closed schools alternatives to merged campuses
A dispute over district plans to merge two schools continues amid a district announcement that it will allow affected students to go to other schools.
Theresa Harrington
October 11, 2019
State Legislature approves later start times for California middle, high school students
Author won support to set middle schools to start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Theresa Harrington
September 14, 2019
Oakland school board’s vote to close schools draws ire from parents, teachers
Board agrees to close two schools and merge them with two others, expand another school, and invest in redesigning an elementary school.
Theresa Harrington
September 12, 2019
Oakland Unified to hire investigator to probe grade-fixing allegations
Move follows formal complaints by two former teachers alleging students at Castlemont High were given credit for work not completed.
Theresa Harrington
September 6, 2019
Oakland superintendent: closing campuses will lead to improved schools
Oakland Unified School board expects to vote on second round of school closures, consolidations and expansions on Sept. 11.
Theresa Harrington
August 30, 2019
Oakland school board could not agree on responses to scathing grand jury report
Board will review complete draft responses Sept. 11 and must submit final responses to findings and recommendations by Sept. 19.
Theresa Harrington
August 22, 2019
Donations help teachers’ dreams come true in Oakland, across the country
DonorsChoose.org matches donors, foundations and businesses to teachers throughout the country to provide supplies and other needed resources.
Theresa Harrington
August 5, 2019
Amid budget deficits, Bay Area district braces for cuts, spending reserves
Like Oakland Unified, West Contra Costa faces budget deficits and sought help from its county office of education.
Theresa Harrington
July 18, 2019
Bay Area school redesigns its program to help students graduate
De Anza High School in West Contra Costa Unified in the East Bay has seen its graduation rate rise higher than the statewide average from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
Theresa Harrington
July 9, 2019
Oakland Unified hires interim CFO to fix fiscal problems as it seeks a permanent financial chief
The district is hiring Luz Cazares, an experienced business official, to implement best practices and lay the groundwork for a new CFO.
Theresa Harrington
July 3, 2019
Oakland Unified board approves budget despite doubts about its accuracy
Board members also wonder whether voters would approve new tax measures next year, after grand jury report blasts district for fiscal mismanagement.
Theresa Harrington
June 28, 2019
How to close schools? Oakland finds out just how tough that can be
Fewer students and budget woes lead the Oakland Unified School District to propose closing or merging schools amid public opposition.