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.

School Finance

September 23, 2021

Staffing shortage delays ambitious program to extend school day and year in California

Low-income districts have priority funding for a nine-hour day and 30-day summer school; lacking staff, they'll have an extra year to plan.

John Fensterwald

Commentary

September 21, 2021

Lessons from Oakland’s move to police-free schools

The story of Oakland’s efforts to eliminate school policing highlights four important lessons about what it truly takes to stop the criminalization of young people and their families.

Jasmine Williams

Immigration

September 20, 2021

California schools prepare for thousands of Afghan refugee students

School districts throughout California are preparing to offer services ranging from translation to food to mental health support for Afghan refugees.

Diana Lambert

Commentary

September 20, 2021

Pell Grant students are doing all they can; they deserve our support.

If Congress beefed up the yearly Pell Grant award, UC students would be able to use more of their financial aid to cover additional basic living expenses and reduce their housing and food insecurity, while borrowing less.

Shawn Brick

Commentary

September 17, 2021

Showing we care: Centering 'cariño' in the return to in-person learning

As we enter yet a new phase of the pandemic, we must prioritize care and compassion for our students, families and educators.

Louie F. Rodriguez

Commentary

September 15, 2021

Why high schools must help all students apply for financial aid

A counselor who insisted he apply for financial aid opened an unseen world of possibilities for the author as a young student.

Christopher J. Nellum

Homeless Youth

September 10, 2021

California schools to get help identifying homeless students if governor signs bill

Legislators say the need is urgent as researchers estimate the number of homeless students in California has increased during the pandemic.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Race and Equity

September 7, 2021

Research finds ethnic studies in San Francisco had enduring impact

Higher rates of graduation and college enrollment are tracked to course, but researcher urges caution in interpreting the study.

John Fensterwald

Commentary

September 2, 2021

Forget ‘learning loss'; focus on what we’ve learned during the pandemic

Focusing only on "learning loss" rather than all the ways students and teachers have grown can lead us into deficit-thinking and lowered expectations for our students.

Leigh Dela Victoria

Learning Well: Beyond the Pandemic

August 24, 2021

How California teachers are welcoming back English learners — with language and community

Some teachers are focused on giving students who are learning English as a second language lots of time to talk and write about their feelings.

Zaidee Stavely

Immigration

August 16, 2021

How immigration policy forced a California family apart and disrupted their education

"My kids put their heart into their studies, and I feel like I'm clipping their wings," said Ruiz Arévalos, who was forced to stay in Mexico two years ago.