EXPLORE: Coronavirus updatesCollege and Covid: Freshman Year DisruptedQuick Guides
Topic

Commentary

Commentaries published in this section and on EdSource more generally represent the opinions of the authors, who in turn are reflective of EdSource’s broad audience. As an independent, non-partisan organization, EdSource does not take a position on legislation or policy. We welcome guest commentaries representing diverse points of view. If you would like to submit a commentary, please review our commentary guidelines, and contact us.
Career Preparation
March 5, 2021

Why I must earn a college degree as a parent of a young child

Returning to community college was no easy feat as a single mother and first-generation, low-income college student.

Melanie Gerner
Commentary
March 1, 2021

This moment calls for radical care for all our children

Whenever and however schools open for in-person instruction — during and after the pandemic — we cannot go back to business as usual.

Tyrone C. Howard
Commentary
February 25, 2021

California must go all in for financial aid

More than $500 million was left on the table last year because students didn't submit applications for financial aid.

Tyler Wu, Peter Granville & Denise Castro
Commentary
February 17, 2021

New tools can help us better address student trauma

Online platform can help teachers spot and respond to students who are struggling.

Jerry Almendarez
Commentary
February 3, 2021

Expanded learning is the right investment for right now – let’s make sure we do it wisely

Policymakers must leverage existing expertise, infrastructure and research when using additional funds for expanded learning.

Jennifer Peck
Commentary
February 1, 2021

Let’s leverage the pandemic to make our education system fairer

State must enhance flexibility and resources for school districts even after students return to campus.

Chris D. Funk
Commentary
January 29, 2021

The perilous politics of opening California schools

Many parents are calling for a safe and swift return to live in-person instruction as soon as possible.

Pat Reilly
Commentary
January 19, 2021

It’s time to reimagine the school campus as a community center

The pandemic has created an opening to reexamine how schools operate and rethink how space is allocated.

Kate Mraw
Commentary
January 13, 2021

To help get kids back in school, California should temporarily suspend local collective bargaining

Gov. Newsom should sit down with union leaders to negotiate a safe statewide reopening of all public schools for in-person instruction.

Carl Cohn
Commentary
January 6, 2021

Ensuring equality: the struggle to reopen California’s public schools amid the pandemic

Legislators should provide clear directives to facilitate in-person instruction.

Mark Brilliant
Commentary
January 4, 2021

Stipends, jobs for student teachers needed to diversify California’s teaching force

Taking a year off of work is a barrier for potential teachers, especially teachers of color, wanting to enter the teaching profession.

Jarod Kawasaki
Commentary
December 22, 2020

Educators are frontline workers who should receive the vaccine as soon as possible

To open schools, Oakland Unified Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell argues that school staff be included in Phase 1b of vaccine distribution.

Kyla Johnson-Trammell
Commentary
December 17, 2020

It’s time we gave women and young children their due

California’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care is a template for a better life, not only for our youngest children, but for women as well.

Liz Simons
Commentary
December 16, 2020

Students remain in distance learning because we lack school-specific Covid-19 data

Schools need a comprehensive statewide dashboard like the one used to track student achievement so administrators and teachers can understand the relative risks and make informed decisions.

Paul Keefer
Commentary
December 11, 2020

Leaders in Sacramento and Washington must walk the talk to support afterschool programs

Tighter budgets have created greater competition for finite resources. As a result, we have seen funding for quality afterschool programming fall behind.

Anne Marie Schubert and Jody Breckenridge