John Affeldt

November 22, 2019

California is poised to confront high proportions of underqualified teachers in low-income schools

Uncredentialed teachers are concentrated where students struggle academically; the State Board may soon have data to support a teacher equity index.

July 30, 2019

LA Unified’s spending and accountability plan should be rejected and rewritten, says advocates’ complaint

Public Advocates argues the district doesn’t show how $1.2 billion in extra funding will benefit English learners and low-income students.

October 31, 2018

California needs a new master plan to close the education equity gap

State must invest new revenues in public education and modernize data system, author says.

October 27, 2016

Finally, districts' accountability plans may be easier to read and use

But the revised LCAP templates may not end up shorter.

August 31, 2016

Dissenting judge awaits second chance to corral a majority on school funding lawsuit

Plaintiffs weigh their options, including another lawsuit to define how much funding is adequate.

August 22, 2016

California high court lets rulings stand on teacher tenure, school funding lawsuits

Three justices issue dissents arguing they should consider overturning tenure, layoff laws.

June 19, 2016

State delays forcing LA Unified to spend more on high-needs students

The district plans to fight the ruling; the community group wants it enforced now.

June 9, 2016

State board may make it easier to follow the money

Unclear regulations and inconsistent enforcement undermine oversight of the LCAP process.

June 1, 2016

State officials find LA Unified shortchanged students

The shortfall for students with the highest needs will grow to $450 million, the complaint says.

April 20, 2016

Appeals Court denies constitutional right to minimum K-12 funding

The split decision says the Legislature has the prerogative to determine how much to spend.

March 28, 2016

Complaint says district must revise LCAP in passing big pay raise

Without more transparency, districts can play shell game with money, law firm charges.

December 3, 2015

No Child Left Behind rewrite works for California

The Every Student Succeeds Act curbs the federal role in dictating school improvement.

May 28, 2015

State cautions when to use funding formula for teacher raises

Law imposes barrier to using funds aimed for poor kids and English learners.

November 20, 2014

Report alleges charter parents forced to volunteer

Dozens and possibly hundreds of the state’s charter schools have adopted policies that illegally require parents to volunteer, the nonprofit law firm Public Advocates charged in its report, “Charging For Access,” issued on Thursday.

John Fensterwald

September 5, 2014

One (maybe final) step closer to new LCAP rules

The staff of the State Board of Education will decide in the next several weeks whether to tinker further with regulations governing the Local Control and Accountability Plans – the accountability and budget plans that school districts completed for the first time in June.