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Distance Learning

The coronavirus crisis has forced school districts, colleges and universities to shift to teaching and learning online. But distance learning poses myriad challenges in a state of 40 million people where many students still lack reliable access to the internet and the devices they need to succeed in online learning. Under this topic, you will find EdSource’s stories exploring these challenges and strategies to overcome them.
Testing and Accountability
January 14, 2021

California school officials push for standardized testing waiver amid Covid-19 spike

California education officials voted to shorten annual tests in math and reading after federal officials said waivers would not be available in 2021.

Sydney Johnson
School Finance
January 8, 2021

Gov. Newsom proposes $4.6 billion for summer school, more learning time in 2021-22 budget

The budget would provide billions for K-12 schools and early education after paying off most of the short-term debt owed from this year’s budget.

John Fensterwald
Coronavirus
January 6, 2021

What obstacles schools must overcome to offer in-person instruction

Gov. Newsom’s “Safe Schools for All” plan offers hope for reopening more schools for in-person instruction, but school districts have to traverse many obstacles to get there, with little time to do it.

Louis Freedberg
Education during Covid: California families struggle to learn
December 30, 2020

Education Interrupted | Documentary

This documentary illustrates the education struggles families face and how some students put off the start of their college careers, so they could support their families when the pandemic claimed their parents' jobs.

Jennifer Molina
Distance Learning
December 24, 2020

Momentum to offer more in-person public school instruction in California comes to a halt

An EdSource survey of the state’s 58 counties shows most California students are learning online, and many districts that had not reopened for face-to-face instruction are postponing their plans, if only temporarily, during current health crisis.

Louis Freedberg And Alexander Montero
Distance Learning
December 24, 2020

Map: In-Person Instruction and Distance Learning in California as of Dec. 16, 2020

This map gives a broad indication of the kind of instruction offered by all or most public school districts in a particular county — whether via in-person or distance learning, or a mixture of the two — as of Dec. 16, 2020.

Yuxuan Xie
Math and Science
December 15, 2020

One more challenge for California teachers in distance learning: All new science curriculum

School districts like West Contra Costa Unified lacked updated learning materials aligned to California’s new science standards prior to the current school year.

Sydney Johnson
Math and Science
December 11, 2020

How one California school district is moving forward with math in the pandemic

Math learning experts are pushing for grade-level content over remediation during the pandemic.

Sydney Johnson
College & Careers
December 10, 2020

Community colleges hardest hit as college enrollment among high school graduates falls nationally amid the pandemic

High school graduates are putting off going to college as students and families cope with the financial challenges of the pandemic, a new national study shows.

Betty Márquez Rosales
College and Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted
December 10, 2020

When helping family comes before going to college

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the college plans for some California freshmen who have had to change their plans so they can help support their families.

Betty Márquez Rosales
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
Math and Science
November 24, 2020

With classrooms closed, scientists take over virtual STEM lessons in LA Unified

As California faces another coronavirus surge, scientists and museum guides are taking to Zoom to meet students at home.

Sydney Johnson
Distance Learning
November 23, 2020

Distance learning stokes fears of excessive screen time

Family life has been disrupted in innumerable ways during the pandemic, including the nature of our relationship to screens.

Karen D'Souza
Education during Covid: California families struggle to learn
November 19, 2020

Disappointing grades, technology glitches and glimpses of learning fun

First report cards of this most unusual school year jolted many of the families participating in EdSource’s special project to chronicle how families are coping. For many, lower-than-expected grades just reinforced how much they are struggling with learning from home.

EdSource Staff
Education during Covid: California families struggle to learn
November 19, 2020

High school seniors lament what they are missing as they plan for the future

High school seniors and their families can relate to the loss and the uncertainty facing 2021 graduates.

Diana Lambert, Ali Tadayon, And Theresa Harrington