Heather Hough

February 16, 2023

Newsom’s big bet on fixing California's poorest schools and narrowing achievement gaps

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing the biggest changes in a decade to the state system of funding and governing schools.

John Fensterwald, Emma Gallegos, And Daniel J. Willis

October 24, 2022

2022 California standardized test results wipe out years of steady progress

Smarter Balanced scores fell sharply in both math and English language arts, indicating it could take years for students to fully recover from the pandemic.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis

Coronavirus

July 8, 2021

California voters give schools and teachers top grades in year-end survey

Were voters "grading on a curve" in recognition of hard work amid a pandemic? Polling also found growing tensions on race and politics.

John Fensterwald

Podcast

April 30, 2021

Pandemic puts school accountability in limbo

This week: School districts are getting billions in federal and state Covid aid. How will the public know if it will be spent effectively?

EdSource staff

Covid: One Year Later

March 18, 2021

Schools chief uses influence to shape policy during pandemic, but lacks power to make big decisions

Thurmond felt pressured by county school superintendents to decree all campuses be closed after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.

Diana Lambert

Coronavirus

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.

John Fensterwald

Podcast

May 29, 2020

The tension between local control and state authority in a pandemic

This week: Two views of local control during COVID-19 – Palos Verdes Supt. Alex Cherniss: fewer safety restrictions; Heather Hough of PACE : stronger state expectations for learning.