CORE Districts

January 4, 2022

Hit hard by Covid, California high school seniors struggling toward graduation

California school districts are reducing the number of credits needed to graduate, changing school schedules and adding tutoring to help seniors earn their diplomas.

July 15, 2021

The road to recovery: What last year’s data can tell us about next year’s plans

We must continue to invest in understanding how students are doing as they return to school after the pandemic.

May 4, 2021

Hundreds of thousands of California students won’t take statewide standardized tests this spring

California released updated guidance for school districts deciding whether Smarter Balanced or a local assessment is their more viable option.

January 26, 2021

Initial data for California confirm early grades, low-income children hit hardest by ‘learning loss’

A study of 50,000 students from 18 districts reaffirm that those who have traditionally struggled fell farther behind academically.

November 30, 2020

Early data on learning loss show big drop in math, but not reading skills

The impact from school closures last spring proved worrisome but not as dire as projected by the assessment organization NWEA.

April 22, 2020

As schools brace for more challenges, federal help is urgently needed

Increasing costs due to the pandemic combined with existing financial challenges will hit California schools hard.

December 19, 2019

Chris Steinhauser to retire after 18 years leading Long Beach Unified

He is one of the longest-serving urban superintendents, praised for his collaborative style and his role in improving student achievement.

December 4, 2019

How California measures academic success is changing at some of the state’s largest districts

California’s CORE districts have the option of publishing growth data. Los Angeles will join Fresno, Long Beach and Oakland in doing so.

August 14, 2019

High school starts early for California freshmen in ‘summer bridge’

Studies show that freshman year can be one of the most critical years in a student's academic journey.

June 5, 2019

There’s value but also limitations to students’ grading their own interpersonal skills, study finds

California districts should use insights from surveys of students' habits of mind but not rate schools by the results, a PACE research project concludes.

November 26, 2018

Measuring growth in test scores is key to understanding student progress

School communities need actionable data and a complete picture of progress to support meaningful changes for students.

Steve Martinez and Rick Miller

October 11, 2018

A future in flux: what next for the California Department of Education?

Without a lot more money, the next state superintendent of public instruction must clarify the department's role under local control.

August 28, 2018

Gates Foundation's new school initiative awards big grants to California nonprofits

Foundation is funding school and district networks to heighten middle and high school success for low-income African American and Latino students. Six California-based organizations will receive $40 million out of $92 million awarded nationwide.

John Fensterwald And Louis Freedberg

January 16, 2018

School district networks use improvement science to get results

Districts seek to narrow achievement gaps, especially at the middle-school level.