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.

Karen D'Souza

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.

Ali Tadayon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Kelly Gonez

April 13, 2021

Los Angeles Unified reopens for in-person learning

Los Angeles Unified, the state's largest district, reopened for in-person learning amid ongoing lawsuits from parents pushing for a full reopening.

Betty Márquez Rosales

March 24, 2021

What are California teachers seeing as the early grades go back to school?

After being apart from each other for so long, children may need to be retrained on how to socialize before they can be ready to learn. 

Karen D'Souza

March 3, 2021

Should kindergarten be mandatory in California? 

Without kindergarten to help build critical skills in reading and math, some students may fall behind.

Karen D'Souza

February 18, 2021

How will expanded transitional kindergarten roll out?

Early childhood advocates applaud any increase in access to early education, which many see as critical to closing achievement gaps.

Karen D'Souza

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

January 28, 2021

What happens to children who missed kindergarten during Covid-19 crisis?

While many students have likely suffered learning loss during the global health crisis, it may have a greater impact on incoming first-graders.

Karen D'Souza