Kevin McCarty

December 8, 2020

California Assembly leaders press for all districts to resume in-school teaching in the spring

Reopening would begin in stages once health officials say schools can safely open under a bill proposed by eduction leaders in the Assembly.

May 19, 2020

New calls to eliminate the fully online Calbright College in budget crisis

The new college’s funding should go to other schools, legislators say. Defenders insist the school will help the newly unemployed retrain.

May 14, 2020

Gov. Newsom’s proposed budget revision cuts programs to recruit, train teachers

The proposed cuts — $915 million — are more than the amount spent for teacher development in the five previous years combined.

January 8, 2020

California’s effort to turn school staff into teachers starts to pay off

More than 2,000 bus drivers, clerks, custodians and teacher aides are earning bachelor’s degrees and teaching credentials.

January 6, 2020

California governor keeps key higher education pledges but significant aid for non-tuition costs remains

Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded financial aid, but experts and activists hope for more progress in the coming year to help students cover non-tuition costs.

September 13, 2019

Push for tougher laws wanes following California admissions scandal

Private colleges successfully pushed for a softer bill while another proposal bolsters admissions oversight at public campuses.

April 9, 2019

California students learn to code to prepare for tomorrow's jobs

Thousands of students at 260 schools in low-income California communities are learning computer coding after school in the Kids Code program. A school’s eligibility for the grant was based on the number of students receiving free and reduced-priced lunch, used as an indicator of community poverty.

Diana Lambert

March 29, 2019

Another push to expand use of SAT in California amid criticism of test

One bill would let school districts give the SAT or ACT to all students, at state expense; another calls on UC and CSU to consider phasing out the tests altogether.

John Fensterwald

College & Careers

March 28, 2019

California legislators seek reforms after college admissions scandal

Lawmakers say they want to level the admissions playing field. Sweeping proposals would add oversight to athletics admissions, ban legacy admissions and regulate private counselors.

Larry Gordon

March 8, 2019

Increasing subsidized child care and pay for providers crucial for California, report says

The California Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education released its long-anticipated draft report for how to improve child care and preschool throughout the state.

Zaidee Stavely

February 26, 2019

Proposed legislation would substantially curb growth of California charter schools

Legislation by the chair of the Assembly Education Committee would ban appeals, cap charters at the current level and factor in charter schools’ fiscal impact on authorizing districts

John Fensterwald

December 4, 2018

New push underway to expand preschool for low-income children in California

Assemblyman Kevin McCarty introduced three bills this week, one to expand spaces for public preschool for low-income 4-year-olds, one to improve preschool facilities and one to increase reimbursement for preschool programs.

Zaidee Stavely

April 19, 2018

Will 2018 be the year of the young voter in California?

Students throughout the state are showing more interest in “high school voter education weeks” than ever before.

David Washburn

February 28, 2018

Forecast for California school climates remains cloudy without good data, advocates say

School districts are trying a variety of strategies aimed at creating safe and welcoming school environments, but there is controversy over the role and frequency of student surveys, and how to use them.