State Board of Education

January 14, 2021

California school officials push for standardized testing waiver amid Covid-19 spike

California education officials voted to shorten annual tests in math and reading after federal officials said waivers would not be available in 2021.

January 13, 2021

In the right direction? Perspectives on Gov. Newsom’s education budget

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s early education and K-12 budget proposals.

July 9, 2020

Gov. Newsom names three members to California’s State Board of Education

Riverside administrator Cynthia Glover Woods, Yurok Tribe leader James McQuillen and bilingual high school teacher Haydee Rodriguez join the board.

February 6, 2020

California’s schools chief states his position as his department revises ethnic studies curriculum

Tony Thurmond says the curriculum should focus on African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, and Native Americans.

January 15, 2020

California Voices: Education leaders speak out on Gov. Newsom's budget proposals

Leaders representing all segments of California's education system share their reactions to the governor’s budget proposals.

December 11, 2019

California parents, preschool teachers learn to teach math through children’s books

A series of activities designed to teach math concepts inspired by children’s books is being piloted as part of a statewide early math initiative.

November 19, 2019

California must build the capacity of its public universities to admit more computer science majors

The state is promoting computer science in K-12 schools, but UC and CSU colleges lack bandwidth to meet the demand.

Trish Boyd Williams and Sathya Narayanan

Commentary

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.

June 4, 2019

California needs all its K-12 public schools to be strong: traditional and charter

State should preserve appeals process for charter schools, former State Board member says.

May 20, 2019

Lawsuit challenges use of restraint, seclusion in California special education school

The guardians of four special education students claim their children were illegally put in restraint holds and secluded.

May 14, 2019

State budget proposal would fund computer science coordinator, broadband expansion

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing $15 million to expand broadband internet to more schools and an additional $1 million to hire a state computer science coordinator as a “down payment” on a comprehensive plan to provide access to computer science classes to all California students.

Diana Lambert

May 9, 2019

California approves new guidance for teaching sex education

The sex education recommendations are part of the state's overall health education framework approved by the board and have generated fierce opposition from conservative religious groups.

David Washburn

May 6, 2019

Conservative religious groups targeting California’s sex education guidance

With the State Board of Education set to vote on new teaching guidelines, groups have launched an aggressive effort to remove recommendations focused on LGBTQ inclusiveness and others they deem too explicit for young students.

David Washburn

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."