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Federal Education Policy

The federal government provides about 8 percent of K-12 dollars, primarily through Title I funding for children from low-income families and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Obama administration sought to expand leverage over states through the Race to the Top competition, but a deadlock in Congress over reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act has left federal policy in flux.
August 31, 2018

The price of punishment — new report shows students nationwide lost 11 million school days due to suspensions

The report, based on federal government data from 2015-16, also found that racial disparities in suspensions remain an acute problem. Nationwide, African-American students lost five times as many days as white students.

David Washburn
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.

John Fensterwald
July 19, 2018

More student borrowers may be eligible to cancel federal student loans than have applied for relief

Amid for-profit college closures, more student borrowers apply to the U.S. Department of Education to cancel their federal education loan debts.

Solomon Moore
July 18, 2018

Federal spending on children projected to drop substantially over next decade

An Urban Institute reports finds entitlements for the elderly, rising payments on national debt and spending caps on safety net programs will squeeze investments in America’s next generation.

John Fensterwald
July 15, 2018

Educators to Trump school safety commission: Don’t repeal Obama discipline guidelines

More than 80 individuals and organizations have come together to urge the commission established by President Donald Trump to retain federal guidelines issued by the Obama administration to combat racial disparities in school discipline.

David Washburn
July 12, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos signs off: California's plan finally satisfies federal law

Approval for the state’s plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act comes one day after State Board of Education makes final fixes.

John Fensterwald
July 11, 2018

California officials confident they’ve cut deal in dispute over federal education law

State Board also votes to continue exploring a way to measure a school’s impact on student learning. Advocates say a “growth model" will be more precise than the method the state uses now.

Mikhail Zinshteyn And John Fensterwald
June 12, 2018

Federal officials again question California's plan for improving lowest performing schools

California is one of handful of states awaiting federal approval of its education plan

John Fensterwald
May 9, 2018

State Board of Education President Mike Kirst announces he'll retire — and reflects on changes he has led

He acknowledges that he couldn’t duplicate the special relationship advising a governor for 44 years.

John Fensterwald
May 3, 2018

African-American students with disabilities suspended at disproportionately high rates

Report finds those students lose substantially more instruction time due to discipline than their white counterparts.

Lee Romney
April 13, 2018

California's plan for Every Student Succeeds Act heads to Betsy DeVos for approval

The state board is satisfied with compromises but will seek one waiver involving English learners.

John Fensterwald
April 8, 2018

To compromise or not: State education board to vote on California’s amended plan for meeting federal law

The state could still seek waivers from changes that board members don’t like — but only after a plan is submitted.

John Fensterwald
April 5, 2018

How a tiny Native American community's trauma might impact education law

A judge’s ruling in a case brought on behalf of schoolchildren in a Grand Canyon reservation could impact whether school districts are required to provide disability services to students impacted by trauma and adversity.

David Washburn
March 29, 2018

Districts must do more to reduce low-income schools' share of inexperienced, ineffective teachers under new federal law

Effectiveness has nothing to do with teachers' impact or performance, as California defines it under the new federal law.

John Fensterwald
March 26, 2018

Federal help available to California schools struggling with wildfire costs

Funding is available for bus service for displaced students, staff overtime, air filters and other fire-related expenses.

Carolyn Jones