Topics K-3 Grades

June 17, 2022

California to create teaching credential covering pre-K through 3rd grade that requires literacy training

State commission hopes new credential will help attract thousands of teachers for transitional kindergarten; literacy advocates press for strong literacy standards.

May 20, 2022

Should kindergarten change in California?

Children from low-income families often start school with fewer academic skills than their more affluent peers, experts say, an issue exacerbated by the pandemic.

April 29, 2022

An unmet promise: Early literacy for all in California

Educators and advocates at an EdSource roundtable urged state leaders to expand research-based teacher training on early literacy and "take responsibility" for California's literacy crisis.

April 13, 2022

Kindergarten may change in California if two new bills pass

Two bills in the California Legislature would fundamentally change the kindergarten experience to reflect the current heightened attention to the importance of early childhood education.

March 31, 2022

State literacy task force echoes call for more reading coaches, specialists

State education leaders put their support behind Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal to pay for literacy coaches and specialists at schools with low reading scores.

March 7, 2022

Will a universal screening test for dyslexia mislabel California’s English learners?

Some California teachers and researchers say tests must be carefully designed to avoid misdiagnosing dyslexia in students who are learning English.

October 26, 2021

Can you teach reading on Zoom?

High-tech literacy projects emerged out of the pandemic as a way to ensure young students stay on track as they learn to read.

September 22, 2021

State superintendent sets goal to get all California third graders reading by 2026

State officials eye legislation aimed at addressing the longstanding issue of struggling early readers.

August 7, 2021

How going remote led to dramatic drops in public school students

Kindergarten students nationwide and in California became the biggest group to opt out of remote-only schooling during the pandemic.

Karen D'Souza And Daniel J. Willis

Remote's impact on the youngest

August 7, 2021

If you feel your child is not ready for first grade due to the pandemic

A new state law addresses the reality this fall for many families: Their child missed kindergarten because of the pandemic. Should they move on to first grade? Parents are entitled to information on the pros and cons.

Karen D'Souza

Commentary

July 8, 2021

The ‘stars aligned’ in budget deal, but hurdles remain for early education

This is much work still to be done to ensure the pre-K entitlement will narrow, rather than reinforce, gaps in children’s early learning.

Bruce Fuller

K-3 Grades

June 11, 2021

LA Unified expands early literacy program

An early literacy program launched as a pilot with 2,500 students has proved successful enough to expand to 14,000 students in coming months.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Bilingual Education

June 1, 2021

California bilingual programs ready to grow after slowing during pandemic

Some school districts were forced to pause their expansion plans for new dual language immersion programs due to the pandemic.

Zaidee Stavely And Betty Márquez Rosales

College & Careers

May 20, 2021

L.A. Unified to launch nation’s largest district college savings account program

L.A. Unified will launch a college savings account program, Opportunity L.A, on Friday for over 13,000 first grade students. All remaining first graders will have their own savings account by the end of 2021.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Commentary

April 20, 2021

Recovering from the pandemic by investing in our earliest learners

Universal high-quality preschool for three- and four-year-olds is a proven way to reduce the opportunity gap, lift families out of poverty, and stimulate the local economy.