Policy and Legislation

August 31, 2020

USDA allows school districts to resume serving free grab-and-go meals through 2020

The US Department of Agriculture announced Monday that it will allow schools to offer free grab-and-go meals to any student, regardless of eligibility, as they did over the summer.

Ali Tadayon

May 26, 2020

Schools would get $1 billion to help homeless students under bipartisan federal proposal

So far, almost no money in federal coronavirus aid bills has been set aside for students with unstable housing.

Carolyn Jones

February 14, 2020

California's community colleges chancellor defends new online college

The state’s first online community college has encountered difficulties, including opposition from faculty at other community colleges.

Diana Lambert

February 12, 2020

How funds for Gov. Newsom's ambitious proposals for teacher recruitment and preparation will be spent

Budget proposes incentives, recruitment programs and training to fill needed teaching positions.

Diana Lambert

January 30, 2020

Voters can help deliver world-class education and thriving communities to students

Ballot measure proponents advocate for a new, ongoing source of funding for state's education priorities.

E. Toby Boyd

January 23, 2020

California moves closer to eliminating, replacing reading instruction test that has blocked thousands from teaching credential

Debate rages on about how to measure a teacher candidate’s ability to teach reading.

Diana Lambert

January 7, 2020

Big promises for little kids: Has California governor delivered on early education?

The early childhood workforce is one area where some experts believe Newsom and the Legislature have fallen short.

Zaidee Stavely

January 3, 2020

Gavin Newsom's 1st-year K-12 scorecard: good grades on priorities and some incompletes

He forged a compromise to revise California's charter school law and gave districts unexpected help to pay employee pension obligations.

John Fensterwald

October 30, 2019

Mandating later school start times in California impinges on local control

Research shows later start times improve academic performance, but many in education community opposed being required to start later.

Louis Freedberg

October 25, 2019

Elizabeth Warren’s K-12 plan could bring billions to California schools

Sen. Warren’s plan for K-12 schools, which focuses on low-income students, would be paid for by a “wealth tax.”

Carolyn Jones

October 15, 2019

Governor vetoes bill to give California teachers paid maternity leave

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have given California teachers at least six weeks of fully paid maternity leave.

Diana Lambert

October 4, 2019

Gov. Newsom signs bills to expand college student aid, target admissions scandal

New laws also ease dual-enrollment for adults and high schoolers.

Ashley A. Smith

October 3, 2019

New era for charter schools: Newsom signs bill after intensive negotiations

For the first time, school districts will be able to consider a proposed charter school’s financial impact.

John Fensterwald

October 2, 2019

Identifying developmental delays is target of new California law

The new law requires doctors to screen children enrolled in Medi-Cal for developmental delays three times before they turn 3.

Zaidee Stavely

September 19, 2019

California needs time to get ethnic studies curriculum right

The debate over whether ethnic studies is an appropriate and valuable course for high school students was settled long ago.

Linda Darling-Hammond