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 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 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 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

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

November 28, 2016

California won't have to rank schools needing help

In final ESSA regulations, the U.S. Department of Education backs off its demand for a single index.

John Fensterwald

November 1, 2016

State Board gets to hit refresh button with more control over federal funding

Congress has given states more freedom to decide how best to use Title I dollars for low-income children.

John Fensterwald

August 1, 2016

Proposed federal, state accountability systems could again clash

A new analysis says federal system would discount California's school climate, college and career indicators.

John Fensterwald

July 28, 2016

Clinton's vice-presidential pick could raise profile of K-12 issues in presidential campaign

Up to this point, education has not been a major focus.

Louis Freedberg

July 20, 2016

Letter details opposition to federal proposal defining student success on tests

The state board agrees with a USC professor studying the issue – minimum proficiency is too narrow a measure.

John Fensterwald