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EXPLORE: California's Community Colleges: At A CrossroadsQuick Guides
Topic

High-needs students

California’s school finance system allocates extra funding for English learners, students who are low-income or homeless and children in foster care. Collectively, these students are often referred to “high needs students.” Though many students fall into more than one category, each of these groups faces unique challenges. In the stories below, EdSource shines a light on these challenges as well as strategies to address them. See also: Foster youth, Homeless youth, English learners, and Low-income Students.
Teacher Shortage
June 22, 2021

California school districts receive unprecedented windfall but lack teachers to help students catch up

A longstanding teacher shortage grew worse during the pandemic, and districts will have to decide which programs to staff and those they won't.

Diana Lambert
Commentary
June 16, 2021

Emergency support for college students is a matter of financial equity, and it’s everyone’s business

Let’s update our traditional perceptions of who students are, how their daily lives look and how best to offer assistance in times of need.

Monica Lozano & José A. Quiñonez
Commentary
June 7, 2021

Districts should focus on finding California’s missing kindergarteners, especially English learners

English learners who did not connect, or connected minimally, during this year of distance learning need a renewed commitment that school will be a place full of rich language, wonderment and engagement in literacy and learning.

Martha Hernandez and Anya Hurwitz
Distance Learning
June 7, 2021

California schools move ahead with fall distance learning plans despite limitations

Parents and education advocacy groups are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to extend distance learning provisions for the upcoming school year.

Sydney Johnson
School Finance
June 4, 2021

California's K-12 funding formula likely to change, but disagreement over how

Gov. Newsom, legislative leaders agree to add $1.1 billion to the Local Control Funding Formula but not on who gets priority for the money.

John Fensterwald
Anne's Insights
June 2, 2021

A case for redefining merit in education

We need to adopt new language that makes merit synonymous with equity and fairness.

Anne Vasquez
Commentary
June 1, 2021

Make good on California’s commitment to equity — fund computer science classrooms

Almost two-thirds of California high schools lack computer science courses and schools serving predominantly low-income students are four times less likely to offer advanced placement computer science courses.

Julie Flapan and Allison Scott
Learning Well: Beyond the Pandemic
May 26, 2021

Why summer school in California will prioritize fun and reconnecting students 

California school districts are offering robust summer school programs with an emphasis on fun to help reconnect students to their schools.

Diana Lambert
Coronavirus
May 21, 2021

Schools across California become pop-up vaccination sites

U.S. and California health officials recently expanded emergency authorization for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines for anyone ages 12 and up.

Sydney Johnson
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
Math and Science
May 20, 2021

California math curriculum spurs new controversy about accelerated learning

Voluntary guidance for math instruction faces criticism from parents saying it stunts potential for students in advanced math pathways.

Sydney Johnson
Commentary
May 19, 2021

What did he get right? Reactions to Gov. Newsom's early education budget

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s May revision of the 2021-22 budget.

Andrew Reed And Alexander Montero
Commentary
May 19, 2021

What did he get right? Reactions to Gov. Newsom's higher education budget

Leaders representing all segments of California's education system share their reactions to the governor’s May revision of the 2021-22 budget.

Andrew Reed And Alexander Montero
Commentary
May 19, 2021

What did he get right? Reactions to Gov. Newsom's K-12 budget

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s revised 2021-22 budget for K-12 education.

Andrew Reed And Alexander Montero
High-needs students
May 19, 2021

Analysis faults districts on lack of spending accountability for Covid funding

With unprecedented billions of dollars, advocacy groups want details on how funding will help students targeted for extra assistance.

John Fensterwald