Commentary

September 17, 2021

Showing we care: Centering 'cariño' in the return to in-person learning

As we enter yet a new phase of the pandemic, we must prioritize care and compassion for our students, families and educators.

September 15, 2021

Why high schools must help all students apply for financial aid

A counselor who insisted he apply for financial aid opened an unseen world of possibilities for the author as a young student.

September 13, 2021

How can teachers support students as we return to in-person learning

Communication, community, flexibility and feedback are four key pillars of a successful return to school during these stressful times.

September 9, 2021

How enduring 9/11 memories from Brooklyn shaped me as a teacher

Memories of the 9/11 attack on his first day of student teaching in Brooklyn, and the loss of a former student at his school, still guide this teacher's journey.

September 8, 2021

School districts must start adjusting their Covid recovery plans soon

California public schools must act now and think differently to close Covid-related staff shortages.

September 7, 2021

Vaccines are our best hope for safety in California schools and beyond

I feel calm about sending my eldest child, a second grader, to school even as I remain uneasy and unsure about a community playground where the potential for exposure to the virus could be much greater.

Dr. Smita Malhotra

Commentary

September 7, 2021

Tightening layoff law would further squeeze school districts' ability to budget

Assembly Bill 438 would force districts to determine which support staff to retain three months before the state budget is passed and six months before the school year begins.

Vernon Billy

Commentary

September 2, 2021

Forget ‘learning loss'; focus on what we’ve learned during the pandemic

Focusing only on "learning loss" rather than all the ways students and teachers have grown can lead us into deficit-thinking and lowered expectations for our students.

Leigh Dela Victoria

Commentary

September 1, 2021

California leads the way on safe school reopening

The surest path to safe and full in-person instruction throughout the school year is a strong emphasis on these reliable prevention measures: vaccines, masks, testing, tracing, and ventilation.

Linda Darling-Hammond

Commentary

August 26, 2021

Instead of stifling competition, let’s ensure all students are prepared

Tutoring and student preparation, not eliminating competition, is the key to boosting equity and achievement in schools.

Nandini Patwardhan

Commentary

August 25, 2021

California’s aspiring community college transfer students deserve pathways to success

Inefficiencies in the transfer process from community colleges to UC and CSU that cost California students time and money can be streamlined by proposed bill.

Eleni Kounalakis

Commentary

August 24, 2021

Financial aid is complicated, the value of simplifying it is easy to understand

Assembly Bill 1456 simplifies an overly complicated system and removes eligibility barriers that have restricted financially vulnerable students from accessing Cal Grants.

Jaclyn Piñero

Student voices

August 23, 2021

Sharing my pre-college journey of a lifetime

Recent high-school grad and first-generation college student advises other students: Stretch yourself and seek support from your school and communities.