No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

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.

John Fensterwald

February 6, 2019

California quietly publishes list of 781 lowest-performing schools

Convinced that stigmatizing “bad schools” and dictating improvements didn't work, state officials are counting on district-led solutions to low achievement.

John Fensterwald

July 3, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appears ready to sign California’s education plan

Top U.S. Department of Education official says he will recommend approval if the State Board of Education votes for a revised plan at its meeting in Sacramento

David Washburn

April 13, 2018

California's plan for Every Student Succeeds Act heads to Betsy DeVos for approval

The state board is satisfied with compromises but will seek one waiver involving English learners.

John Fensterwald

April 8, 2018

To compromise or not: State education board to vote on California’s amended plan for meeting federal law

The state could still seek waivers from changes that board members don’t like — but only after a plan is submitted.

John Fensterwald

September 15, 2017

California defines 'effective' and 'ineffective' teachers, and why it matters

A teacher's credential, not his or her performance, will define effectiveness under the state's education plan required by federal law.

John Fensterwald

September 13, 2017

State adopts plan required by federal education law; here's what's in it

California officials insist Every Student Succeeds Act will not alter the direction of the state's ongoing reforms.

John Fensterwald

July 17, 2017

State board, advocacy groups fundamentally disagree over plan for complying with federal education law

Is the state's bare-bones response to the Every Student Succeeds Act a shrewd tactic or a missed opportunity?

John Fensterwald

May 10, 2017

State education officials call for clearer directives to close achievement gaps

The staff of the State Board of Education will revise the plan for complying with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

John Fensterwald

May 8, 2017

California education leader calls immigration 'the civil rights issue of our time'

The longtime education leader says public schools must serve the needs of parents and students as the Trump administration focuses on school choice.

Theresa Harrington

May 4, 2017

State board inscribes 'California Way' on state plan for new federal law

The Every Student Succeeds Act gives states more latitude to spend federal dollars and fix low-achieving schools.

John Fensterwald

March 9, 2017

Little impact expected on California as Congress rescinds school accountability rules

Civil rights groups counted on ESSA accountability rules to force the state board to take tough actions.

John Fensterwald

January 11, 2017

State board chooses new way of measuring school progress on tests

It also decides which schools' English learners will fall in the accountability system's low-performing "red zone."

John Fensterwald

January 9, 2017

Ending the No Child Left Behind Catch-22 on English learner progress

State Board of Education should change how the progress of English learners is measured to make the system more fair.

Linda Darling-Hammond and Kenji Hakuta

December 13, 2016

Federal government insists again that California administer old science tests

If California does what the U.S. Department of Education says it should do, some students could end up taking two standardized science tests instead of one this spring.

Louis Freedberg