State Board of Education

April 2, 2019

Newsom names two to state’s education board: former superintendent and early ed advocate

Kim Pattillo-Brownson, vice president for policy and strategy at First 5 Los Angeles, and Matt Navo, former superintendent of much studied Sanger Unified, will join the 11 member policy-setting board.

John Fensterwald And Zaidee Stavely

March 19, 2019

Darling-Hammond: Building a 'world class and equitable education system in California'

In her first remarks as president of the State Board of Education, Linda Darling-Hammond says that California must prepare kids "to work with knowledge that hasn't been discovered yet, using technologies that haven't been invented yet, solving big problems that we have not yet managed to solve."

EdSource Staff

February 18, 2019

California students may not be ready for new science test

Although students will begin taking the California Science Test in March, most school districts have yet to approve textbooks or materials aligned to the new standards adopted six years ago by the State Board of Education. Still, federal law is requiring California to begin testing this year.

Diana Lambert

January 9, 2019

School districts will be required to verify they’re fixing California’s lowest-performing schools

The Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to identify and improve student achievement in the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools. Districts with those schools will explain how in a new section of their Local Control and Accountability Plans.

John Fensterwald

January 8, 2019

Michael Kirst's parting advice: more teacher and principal training is critical to success of local control

In an exit interview, retiring state board President Michael Kirst urges more attention to professional development for teachers and principals, discusses the need for more school funding, an expanded school database and a new agency focused on children's needs.

John Fensterwald

December 17, 2018

Brown appointees to comprise majority on California's state board of education after Newsom takes office 

Seven out of 11 board members will remain on the board after Jerry Brown leaves office.

Louis Freedberg

November 28, 2018

California school districts to get ‘wake-up call’ with new absenteeism measures

At least 40 percent of California school districts and charter schools have rates of chronic absence in grades K-8 that are high or very high based on new performance measures that will be unveiled next month.

David Washburn

September 22, 2018

An urgent call for student leaders

The student position on the State Board of Education is California's most prominent opportunity for a student to participate in improving school systems.

Jeff Camp

September 13, 2018

California embraces computer science in its schools

California State Board of Education adopted California’s first ever model K-12 computer science standards last week.

Trish Williams

September 7, 2018

California State Board of Education denies Rocketship charter school expansion bid

Some California State Board of Education members questioned Rocketship's capacity to expand, citing concerns about finances and educational programs.

Theresa Harrington

September 5, 2018

California adopts first computer science standards for K-12 students

The standards will guide teaching for K-12 students.

Diana Lambert

August 16, 2018

One California charter school's struggle for approval and a building close to its parents

Promise Academy disagreements with San Jose Unified mirror tensions escalating statewide over charter schools.

John Fensterwald

July 17, 2018

Oakland charter school approved amid concerns over fiscal impact on district

California Department of Education official calls state's charter school laws outdated and says they are in need of revision.

Theresa Harrington

July 12, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos signs off: California's plan finally satisfies federal law

Approval for the state’s plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act comes one day after State Board of Education makes final fixes.

John Fensterwald

July 10, 2018

Pressure builds to change how California measures student progress on state tests

Student advocacy groups and academics are seeking to adopt a model other states use to calculate the impact of students’ test score growth, but state staff urge patience.

John Fensterwald And Mikhail Zinshteyn