January 12, 2015

Preschool advocates seek more funding

Advocates for expanding preschool to low-income 4-year-olds were disappointed with the 4,000 additional enrollment slots proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown in his 2015-16 budget released Friday. Some were hoping for at least 10,000 additional slots.

Susan Frey

January 9, 2015

Education funding surges in governor's budget

State money for K-12 schools and community colleges is projected to slow to a trickle, starting in two years, when temporary taxes from Proposition 30 start drying up. But for now, there’ll be buckets of money.

John Fensterwald

January 9, 2015

Gov. Brown targets teacher preparation

Gov. Jerry Brown ventured Friday for the first time during his governorship into the challenge of preparing -- and retaining -- teachers. The issue has received relatively short shrift in the raft of reforms being implemented in California schools.

Louis Freedberg

January 9, 2015

Education wins big in budget

Between Proposition 30 tax revenue and an improving economy, K-14 education in California is looking to win big in Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed 2015-16 budget.

EdSource staff

January 8, 2015

Digital Library's use, usefulness questioned

Midway through the school year, about half the state’s teachers have access to a new "Digital Library" the state purchased to help them teach the Common Core State Standards, but it’s unclear how many teachers are actually using it and how useful it is.

John Fensterwald

January 8, 2015

Study: Suspensions harm 'well-behaved' kids

It’s a belief repeated every day by teachers, principals and parents of rule-abiding children: Suspending disruptive students will allow the rest of the class to settle down and learn. But a new, large study calls this rationale into question.

Jane Meredith Adams

January 8, 2015

Obama proposes free community college

President Barack Obama has unveiled a proposal to make the first two years of community college free for "responsible students."

Michelle Maitre

January 7, 2015

New laws to improve student health supports

A slew of new laws affecting students’ physical, emotional and behavioral wellbeing will change how schools operate this year, in ways large and small. The laws regulate basic needs grants for truant students, pesticide use and expulsions for "willfully defiant" behavior, among other issues.

Jane Meredith Adams

January 7, 2015

Report gives state low marks on preschool

California ranks well above other states in preschool and kindergarten enrollment, but still ranks 45th overall in its efforts to support the education of its youngest children, according to a report by Education Week released today.

Susan Frey

January 7, 2015

Report: State no longer at bottom in spending

Education Week’s annual state rankings on K-12 education had welcome, though outdated, news for California: No longer rock-bottom, California moved from 50th to 46th in per-student state spending in 2011-12, the latest data cited.

John Fensterwald

January 7, 2015

Schools awarded funds for Internet upgrades

Laurie Udesky

January 6, 2015

Ferguson protests cast shadow over Berkeley

Louis Freedberg

January 5, 2015

Charter school supports grads through college

KIPP charter schools are providing ongoing support, including building partnerships with universities, to help ensure that their students – many the first in their families to go to college – make it through college.

Susan Frey

January 5, 2015

Brown: $65.7 billion for schools next year

Gov. Jerry Brown gave education top billing during remarks at his historic fourth swearing in ceremony Monday and forecast billions in additional school funding next year.

Michelle Maitre

January 4, 2015

EdWatch 2015: 10 issues to watch

2015 promises to be a pivotal year for several major reforms in public education, including the continuing rollout of the Common Core State Standards, the state's new school financing and accountability system, and the administration of the online Smarter Balanced assessments.

EdSource staff