Reforms

Topic

The Common Core Challenge

Forty-one states, including California, have adopted the Common Core State Standards in math and English language arts. The standards describe the knowledge and skills that students should master by the end of each grade to graduate from high school ready for success in college and the workplace. Over 3 million students in the 3d through 8th grade, and in the 10th grade, were first tested on the Smarter Balanced assessments aligned with the Common Core in the spring of 2015, the first time standardized tests were administered online. Major ongoing issues are whether teachers are adequately prepared to teach based on the standards in all schools and districts throughout the state, whether they have adequate curriculum materials aligned with the standards, and whether students, especially English learners and special ed students, are adequately prepared to take the new assessments.

October 11, 2019

For better insights into California's new test results, look at achievement over time

Analytical tools that are available but not used can help schools better understand how to improve student performance.

David Wakelyn

October 10, 2019

How did students at your child’s school do on Smarter Balanced tests?

Readers can access results for California’s Smarter Balanced tests taken by students in the spring in nearly 10,000 school statewide.

Diana Lambert

October 9, 2019

Slow growth, big disparities after 5 years of Smarter Balanced tests

Average scores have been rising in English language arts, but dropping in math as students progress through middle and high school — a cause for worry.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis

August 26, 2019

California science teachers offer more input on new classroom materials

A new rubric for science textbooks aims to help teachers understand the state standards while picking out new materials.

Sydney Johnson

July 23, 2019

Plan to expose all students to physics missing one element — teachers

As California schools move to implement new science standards, there will be an increased demand for teachers in a subject area where there is already a severe shortage.

Diana Lambert

July 11, 2019

10 California districts struggle, and find some success, as they shift to Common Core math

Studies of the Math in Common project offer lessons for other districts and a warning: Steady progress takes a long-term commitment.

John Fensterwald

February 21, 2019

Support, strengthen education reforms in California, new report urges

Learning Policy Institute says schools need more funding, teachers need more support and the public needs more help understanding where the money goes.

John Fensterwald

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 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

November 14, 2018

New California coalition agrees on next steps to improve schools, student achievement

The Alliance for Continuous Improvement releases a "GPS" guide that calls for improving on sweeping changes already in place: new education standards, a more equitable funding system and higher expectations for student success.

John Fensterwald

October 2, 2018

Small rise in California’s math and reading scores in 2018

There are signs of "encouragement" and "distress" in implementing the Common Core standards after four years of Smarter Balanced testing. There is also a dilemma: 11th-grade results.

John Fensterwald

September 17, 2018

Multifaceted reforms needed to reach California’s education goals, research project finds

Getting Down to Facts II finds strong support for education reforms but also obstacles to student achievement and a need for more funding.

John Fensterwald

September 17, 2018

Essential Guide to Getting Down to Facts II

Here are the take-aways from the studies on special education, funding needs, a teacher shortage, a data deficit, student mental health local control's unmet potential – and more.

John Fensterwald, Daniel J. Willis, Yuxuan Xie, And Justin Allen

September 17, 2018

Ten years on, California is making progress but must do more for preK-12 education

Getting Down to Facts II research project scrutinized how California's schools are doing after a decade of policy changes.

Susanna Loeb

August 20, 2018

Fewer Californians than residents nationwide favor raising teacher pay

Strikes in low-paying states opened the public's eyes. In California, where teachers are among nation's highest paid – cost of living aside – Education Next's 2018 poll found more support for raising overall funding than teacher pay.