Topic

Curriculum

In addition to our in-depth coverage of education policy, EdSource works hard to keep you informed about what is going on in the classroom. Our reporting on science, math and literacy as well as our ongoing coverage on deeper learning and expanded learning can be found here. We also keep a close eye on the evolving nature of student testing and school accountability.

November 19, 2018

Preschoolers take on math with the help of college students

Preschool Counts, a program piloted by Stanford University in 2013, is boosting early math skills by pairing undergraduate students with preschoolers to practice math through games and other activities.

Ashley Hopkinson

November 9, 2018

A three-point education agenda for California in 2019

Newly elected policymakers should focus on supporting teachers, helping struggling students, and better aligning teaching materials to state standards, say former California secretaries of education Gary Hart and Glen Thomas

Gary K. Hart and Glen Thomas

October 30, 2018

Building relationships with preschool parents, one conversation at a time

To help preschoolers who are learning to speak in more than one language, one California school district is focusing on parent engagement through in-person interviews that are boosting parent participation in class activities.

Ashley Hopkinson

October 25, 2018

Non-citizen parents hesitant to register for San Francisco’s school board elections

San Francisco is the only city in California where parents without U.S. citizenship are allowed to vote in school board elections, but only 49 registered, amid warnings that ICE could find their addresses.

Zaidee Stavely

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 30, 2018

Gov. Brown vetoes bill to let districts give SAT or ACT as 11th grade test

Dozens of districts are offering the tests at their own expense already, because scores on SAT and ACT, not Smarter Balanced, are what matters to high school juniors.

John Fensterwald

September 27, 2018

California’s persistent teacher shortage fueled by attrition, high demand, say newly released studies

The teacher shortage has worsened in recent years as state funding for education improved and districts began lowering class sizes and bringing back programs, increasing the demand for teachers, according to new studies.

Diana Lambert

September 27, 2018

California improves access to computer science courses, but still has work to do, according to new research

The Code.org Advocacy Coalition designed nine policies to increase access to computer science classes for all students.

Diana Lambert

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 13, 2018

California embraces computer science in its schools

California State Board of Education adopted California’s first ever model K-12 computer science standards last week.

Trish Williams

September 6, 2018

California to add chronic absenteeism, career/college indicators to education 'dashboard'

The State Board of Education has no answer to a basic question: Should the state measure readiness for 'college and careers' or 'college or careers'?

John Fensterwald

September 5, 2018

California adopts first computer science standards for K-12 students

The standards will guide teaching for K-12 students.

Diana Lambert

September 4, 2018

New ‘friendlier’ look coming for California’s school dashboard

Complaints that the state education data web site was too difficult to understand led to redesigned version.

John Fensterwald

August 29, 2018

Offering the SAT instead of Smarter Balanced will open doors to college

11th graders suffering test fatigue from too many tests and SAT better positions underserved students for college, proponents say.

Christopher J. Steinhauser

August 23, 2018

Renewed push to offer SAT and ACT as California's 11th-grade test

Superintendents say free college readiness testing for all would raise SAT/ACT scores and boost college admissions. Opponents say AB 1951 would undermine the usefulness of high school testing.