Policy and Legislation

April 6, 2021

Gov. Newsom expects full in-person fall return to school after state scraps color-coded tiers

State officials plan to retire the “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” color-coded tier system on June 15, and said they expect full-time in-person instruction in the fall.

Ali Tadayon And John Fensterwald

March 17, 2021

California lawmakers push agency to better protect students at for-profit colleges

At issue is the future of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, which regulates for-profit colleges in California

Thomas Peele

March 12, 2021

California agency that oversees for-profit colleges to face critics

The agency that regulates California’s 1800 for-profit colleges needs reauthorization from the Legislature to keep operating. Lawmakers say they want it to do a better job protecting the 260,000 students at for-profit schools.

Thomas Peele

March 4, 2021

California Legislature approves plan to encourage schools to reopen for in-person instruction

The bill provides $2 billion in incentives for schools to reopen for special needs and other students, beginning with the earliest grades.

Carolyn Jones And Louis Freedberg

February 12, 2021

California teacher credentialing requirements continue to be eased during pandemic

A waiver that allows teacher candidates to teach while completing required exams and courses is the latest action to ease teaching requirements.

Diana Lambert

November 25, 2020

School districts try out different strategies to boost immunization rates for non-Covid diseases

In response to declining immunization rates, school districts are increasing their outreach to parents and offering free clinics.

Diana Lambert And Ali Tadayon

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