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Policy & Finance
Topic

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.
December 17, 2019

As California launches preschool expansion, federal government seeks to limit data

It could soon get harder to find out how many preschoolers were suspended more than once or how many young children had access to preschool.

Zaidee Stavely
December 3, 2019

Multiple school transfers contribute to high absenteeism among foster students

Foster students miss the most school days of any group of students in the state.

Ashley A. Smith
November 12, 2019

University of California will support undocumented students, even if DACA ends

UC considering ways to help undocumented students stay in school, if their DACA status is terminated.

Zaidee Stavely
October 30, 2019

Mandating later school start times in California impinges on local control

Research shows later start times improve academic performance, but many in education community opposed being required to start later.

Louis Freedberg
October 25, 2019

California rural schools struggling to hire teachers could get help from $9.4 million in grants

Two federal grants will help California recruit teachers and mental health professionals to rural schools.

Diana Lambert
September 23, 2019

Poverty levels in schools key determinant of achievement gaps, not racial or ethnic composition, study finds

Researchers say the concentrations of black and Hispanic students in high-poverty schools should still be a focus of education reform.

Louis Freedberg
September 13, 2019

With shout-out to teachers, Democratic candidates talk about schools in Houston

In a shift from an era when teachers were blamed for students' failures, several candidates express support for teachers.

Louis Freedberg
August 2, 2019

School lunch could be slashed for thousands of California children under new proposal

Families who would no longer qualify for food stamps under a new proposed rule will also lose their automatic eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals.

Zaidee Stavely
July 24, 2019

My memorable year teaching as Berkeley integrated its schools

Former teacher recalls hopeful time half a century ago in a newly integrated middle-school classroom.

Miriam Kurtzig Freedman
July 2, 2019

Charter school movement in a "battle for survival," charter school leader says

National gathering of charter educators and supporters comes at a time of slowing growth and increasing resistance by teachers unions and in state Legislatures.

Louis Freedberg
July 1, 2019

For many, attending racially mixed schools has been a life changer

Abandoning school desegregation as a top priority was a mistake, UC Berkeley professor says.

David Kirp
April 23, 2019

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants to forgive student loans for 42 million Americans

Plan would forgive loans of up to $50,000 for 42 million Americans — for every person with a student loan and a household income of less than $100,000. It would be paid for by a tax on the wealthiest Americans.

Louis Freedberg
March 26, 2019

Kamala Harris's plan to boost teacher pay would cost $315 billion over 10 years

The goal would be to boost salaries of every teacher who is paid less than workers in other professions with comparable credentials and experience in their respective states.

Louis Freedberg
February 6, 2019

California quietly publishes list of 781 lowest-performing schools

Convinced that stigmatizing “bad schools” and dictating improvements didn't work, state officials are counting on district-led solutions to low achievement.

John Fensterwald
February 6, 2019

Trump renews call for 'school choice' legislation in State of the Union speech

He makes no mention of the fate of undocumented students currently in legal limbo in the United States, including about 75,000 enrolled in California's public colleges and universities.

Louis Freedberg