High-needs students

Topic

Digital Divide

California has long wrestled with a stark split between students and teachers who have access to internet and computers and home and those who don’t. This digital divide has created uneven access to completing homework, researching and applying for colleges or financial aid, and other important opportunities for students. As schools rely more on distance learning, this unequal access to technology threatens to widen gaps in academic achievement, especially among Black, Latino and low-income students in rural areas who are among the least likely in California to have internet subscriptions at home. State and district officials are pushing for a variety of solutions to help close the gap and provide access to the internet for all California students, however there is still a long road ahead.

Coronavirus

May 10, 2021

Students, community organizations ask judge to order mental health services, internet access

The lawsuit argues top education officials must monitor districts to see that billions in Covid relief address students' pressing needs.

John Fensterwald

Testing and Accountability

May 4, 2021

Hundreds of thousands of California students won’t take statewide standardized tests this spring

California released updated guidance for school districts deciding whether Smarter Balanced or a local assessment is their more viable option.

Sydney Johnson

Covid: One Year Later

March 15, 2021

Distance learning changed California education. What’s here to stay?

Teachers pushed through difficult days to find solutions that kept kids learning during an upended school year. Some changes may stick.

Sydney Johnson

Distance Learning

February 12, 2021

White students in California more likely to be getting in-person instruction than Black, Latino and Asian students

Across California, nearly half of all districts with elementary schools have reopened them to in-person or hybrid learning. White students more likely to be attending school in-person.

Sydney Johnson And Daniel J. Willis

Distance Learning

February 9, 2021

California teachers grapple with grading nearly a year after initial school closures

Many districts are seeing surges in Fs and Ds during distance learning, prompting a revision of expectations and policies around grades.

Sydney Johnson

Distance Learning

November 30, 2020

Early data on learning loss show big drop in math, but not reading skills

The impact from school closures last spring proved worrisome but not as dire as projected by the assessment organization NWEA.

John Fensterwald

Commentary

November 5, 2020

Ensure equitable broadband access to secure California’s future

When the delivery of high-quality instruction depends on reliable, high-speed broadband connections for every student anyone lacking these resources gets left behind.

Su Jin Gatlin Jez and Peter J. Taylor

Testing and Accountability

November 5, 2020

Shorter exams will replace California’s annual Smarter Balanced tests

Federal education officials said they will not waive testing requirements for the 2020-21 school year.

Sydney Johnson

Testing and Accountability

November 4, 2020

California to consider shorter Smarter Balanced tests this spring

The State Board of Education will vote this week on whether to shorten the state’s annual standardized tests in math and English language arts.

Sydney Johnson

Digital Divide

October 15, 2020

Up to 1 million California students may still lack connectivity during distance learning

State leaders struggle to pinpoint how many students remain unconnected, and fear widening inequality as distance learning continues.

Sydney Johnson

Commentary

October 9, 2020

Schools must work harder to connect culturally with English learners during the pandemic

Students and their families need help crossing cultural and linguistic barriers to access distance learning materials and instructions.

Magaly Lavadenz and Elvira Armas

Distance Learning

August 26, 2020

On or off? California schools weigh webcam concerns during distance learning

Some teachers report less engagement with cameras off, but anxiety, tech glitches and privacy concerns could keep some students from turning them on.

Sydney Johnson

State Education Policy

August 17, 2020

Millions of students — and their teachers — embark on vast experiment with distance learning

Distance learning is not a mode of instruction most parents, students, teachers and administrators would have chosen in the absence of the pandemic.

Louis Freedberg

Digital Divide

August 14, 2020

Pressure is on to close the digital divide under California governor’s executive order

The governor wants to reimagine the state’s Broadband Council and ramp up efforts to connect all students to technology during distance learning.

Sydney Johnson

Distance Learning

August 13, 2020

Oakland Unified opens virtually with thousands of students lacking computers and hotspots

A citywide campaign raised $12.5 million to provide for low income students, but the devices have not yet arrived due to a backlog.