Topic

College & Careers

College and career readiness is a primary goal of all the major reforms in place in California. But now more than ever, as the pandemic has closed campuses and pushed schools and colleges to adopt distance learning, what are the state’s high schools and colleges doing to prepare students for the challenges that lie ahead?

This section explores how California’s K-12 system prepares its students for college and how colleges are preparing their students for the world beyond.

Commentary

December 7, 2021

What’s the point of high school? Where I teach, it's more than a diploma

We need to get back to the reasons teachers start teaching in the first place: to support students, to inspire futures and to create fulfilled adults.

Laura Ochoa

Learning Well: Beyond the Pandemic

December 3, 2021

Why some California school districts are changing how students earn grades

Dropping D's and F's and working with students to master the material is seen as a way to improve learning and boost equity.

Carolyn Jones And John Fensterwald

Q&A

December 1, 2021

California award-winning school counselor urges college applicants to get past fears

A student counselor from Fresno's McLane High inspires students with his history as a young immigrant and garners statewide prize.

Larry Gordon

Financial Aid

November 30, 2021

Challenges remain for undocumented students to tap financial aid in California

Colleges interpret the laws differently and have different requirements for undocumented students to receive financial aid.

Zaidee Stavely

College & Careers

November 29, 2021

California State University adopts new approach to entice students back

With the pandemic resulting in enrollment loss across the CSU system, Chancellor Joseph Castro embraced a new strategy to get students to come back.

Ashley A. Smith

College & Careers

November 18, 2021

University of California sticks with test-free admissions, won’t replace SAT and ACT with new standardized test

After deciding not to develop its own test to replace the SAT, UC considered using Smarter Balanced exams. That idea has also been rejected.

Michael Burke

Community Colleges

November 18, 2021

Long Beach City College offers students safety while sleeping in their cars

Long Beach City College has launched a safe overnight parking pilot program to provide homeless students with a safe place to park every night. The pilot includes security guards, access to showers and help finding more stable housing.

BETTY MÁRQUEZ ROSALES and Bella Arnold

Commentary

November 17, 2021

Community colleges are still wasting Black and Latino students’ time

By shrugging off the law against putting students into noncredit, nontransferrable remedial courses, colleges continue to trap students in a never-ending cycle leading to failure.

Jetaun Stevens

Community Colleges

November 16, 2021

California community college system urged to do more to help students complete college

Members of the governing board for California's community colleges are urged to focus the system on helping students stay enrolled and complete studies.

Michael Burke

College & Careers

November 15, 2021

Pandemic caused decline in international students at California colleges but return has begun

Despite travel restrictions, California still enrolled most foreign students in nation, led by USC and UC campuses.

Larry Gordon

Community Colleges

November 12, 2021

Dramatic enrollment drop won’t cost California community colleges state aid but could impact adjunct faculty

California's community colleges' declining enrollment won't reduce state funding but adjunct profs may lose opportunities.

Michael Burke And Thomas Peele

College & Careers

November 9, 2021

More California Latino students attending college, but 'disturbing gaps' remain

Latinos are 39% of the state’s population, yet only one in four students in the entire University of California system identify as Latino.

Betty Márquez Rosales

College & Careers

November 9, 2021

SAT and ACT slip in priority among California high school students

California's public universities won't consider SAT and ACT scores, but some students still take tests for scholarships and placement.

Larry Gordon

Following Covid Money in Education

November 5, 2021

How six California community college districts became targets of scammers

Scammers have tried to infiltrate California colleges and get a piece of $1.6 billion in federal Covid relief aid. In at least a few districts, they succeeded.

Michael Burke

California's Community Colleges: At a Crossroads

November 4, 2021

California community college enrollment drops below 2 million students, more than previously reported

California Community Colleges suffered a pandemic enrollment drop of nearly 15%, higher than what the system reported earlier this year for the fall 2020 semester.