May 7, 2020

California school funding formula has a spending loophole; is a recession the time to fix it?

School districts argue budget cuts warrant spending flexibility; equity advocates argue high-needs students need resources they're entitled to.

John Fensterwald

August 29, 2018

Offering the SAT instead of Smarter Balanced will open doors to college

11th graders suffering test fatigue from too many tests and SAT better positions underserved students for college, proponents say.

Christopher J. Steinhauser

March 15, 2018

Don’t swap state tests like Smarter Balanced for SAT or ACT, report cautions

State Superintendent Torlakson and some superintendents are at odds on the issue. An analysis by the prominent nonprofit Achieve will add fuel to the debate.

John Fensterwald

January 31, 2018

High school juniors could get relief from test fatigue under bill to offer SAT for 11th-grade test

Patrick O’Donnell says students would benefit from subbing SAT or ACT for Smarter Balanced math and reading exams

John Fensterwald

August 6, 2017

Growing number of California school districts offer students free college entrance exam

Three dozen California districts and charter networks say free tests raise expectations and remove a barrier for applying to college.

John Fensterwald

April 4, 2017

Long Beach Unified accused of underfunding 'high-needs' students

The complaint is contesting how the district spent $41 million in supplemental and concentration funding.

John Fensterwald

March 7, 2017

Turf battle developing over who can test California's 11th-graders

SAT and Smarter Balanced explore the potential of a partnership, even as they compete for market share.

John Fensterwald

February 23, 2017

California education officials reject Long Beach's request to replace statewide assessment with SAT

Citing duplication, the state's third-largest district sought to drop the 11th-grade Smarter Balanced test.

John Fensterwald

March 8, 2016

Dozen districts offer free SAT to all juniors

Long Beach would like the SAT to replace the 11th-grade Smarter Balanced test.

John Fensterwald

July 22, 2015

Issue of collective bargaining threatens evaluation reform

Democrats' bills would give teachers the right to negotiate what goes into an evaluation.

John Fensterwald

April 28, 2015

School boards and administrators oppose teacher evaluation bills

Teachers, districts disagree over who determines how teachers will be judged

John Fensterwald

December 3, 2014

Teacher to chair education committee

Patrick O’Donnell, a first-year Democratic legislator from Long Beach who’s been a teacher for 20 years, has been appointed to chair the Assembly Education Committee.

John Fensterwald

August 6, 2013

Eight California districts receive historic NCLB waiver

John Fensterwald

May 23, 2013

San Jose teachers, board adopt landmark teacher evaluation system

John Fensterwald

March 26, 2013

Long Beach middle schools to start an hour later

Jane Meredith Adams