Long Beach Unified School District

January 7, 2022

High Covid rates, staff shortages and confusing legislation challenge schools' reopenings

School officials are struggling to keep schools open amid Covid outbreaks and staffing shortages. Conflicting messages from California state officials are making it even more difficult.

Diana Lambert, John Fensterwald, And Ali Tadayon

June 22, 2021

California school districts receive unprecedented windfall but lack teachers to help students catch up

A longstanding teacher shortage grew worse during the pandemic, and districts will have to decide which programs to staff and those they won't.

Diana Lambert

April 28, 2021

California teachers, school staff receive bumps in pay as campuses reopen

Districts signed agreements before reopening campuses that included everything from retroactive raises and bonuses to ongoing salary increases.

Diana Lambert

February 18, 2021

Long Beach Unified is largest school district in California to announce reopening plans

School staff will get both vaccines before facing children, and staff and students will be required to take asymptomatic tests weekly.

Louis Freedberg

September 15, 2020

Fearing distance learning, many parents opt for preschool instead of kindergarten

Some parents are also opting for preschool because a more familiar environment offers comfort during the pandemic.

Zaidee Stavely

April 20, 2020

Teachers are the foundation for superintendent success

Classroom teachers are the key difference makers throughout this emergency and will remain so once it is over, former superintendent says.

Carl Cohn

April 9, 2020

In rare display of leadership continuity, Long Beach Unified turns to another insider to fill district’s top post

One of California's largest districts, with over 73,000 students, has appointed deputy superintendent Jill Baker as its new superintendent.

Louis Freedberg

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.

John Fensterwald

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.

Michael Burke

October 29, 2019

Gov. Newsom missed opportunity by not allowing students to take SAT or ACT in lieu of state tests

If we raise the bar and also provide the right support for kids, teachers and parents, students will meet or exceed our expectations.

Christopher J. Steinhauser

September 26, 2019

More math adds up to more Long Beach high school students eligible for college

Some warn that it will be difficult for other districts to increase math graduation requirements due to budget and staffing constraints.

Sydney Johnson

May 1, 2019

After years of avoidance, time to take on challenges posed by California charter schools

Early backer of charter law says no easy answers to issues raised by charter school expansion in the state.

Carl Cohn

August 29, 2018

Offering the SAT instead of Smarter Balanced will open doors to college

11th graders suffering test fatigue from too many tests and SAT better positions underserved students for college, proponents say.

Christopher J. Steinhauser

May 15, 2018

Resources often don't match rhetoric for restorative justice in California schools

While awareness of restorative justice is high among school officials statewide, budgets for programs remain tiny in most school districts.

David Washburn

October 3, 2017

LA County Office admits it shouldn't have approved Long Beach's LCAP

County officials are now demanding districts do a better job of justifying spending for low-income students and English learners under the funding formula.

John Fensterwald