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.

Commentary

April 16, 2021

Infusion of federal funds must be used to reimagine education in the San Joaquin Valley

Influx of funding in response to the pandemic provides a unique opportunity to reimagine cradle-to-career education in the San Joaquin Valley.

Don Shalvey

College Readiness

April 16, 2021

New micro-scholarships in San Jose build bank accounts and mindsets for college

Mayor Sam Liccardo raises $6 million to pilot innovative program in which small “scholar dollar” awards can add up to $5,000 by graduation.

John Fensterwald

English Learners

April 13, 2021

Many English learners reluctant to return to in-person instruction at California schools

English learners have priority to return to in-person instruction at some school districts, but fear of the coronavirus is keeping many of them home.

Betty Márquez Rosales And Zaidee Stavely

Coronavirus

March 24, 2021

California lags behind most states in offering fully in-person instruction, new data show

Across the country, 32% of 4th-grade students have been offered hybrid instruction and 47% have been offered fully in-person instruction.

Sydney Johnson

English Learners

March 23, 2021

Coaches, mentors at California schools key to helping keep recent immigrant students engaged during pandemic

When the pandemic hit, many students who recently immigrated to the U.S. were not attending online classes regularly.

Betty Márquez Rosales And Zaidee Stavely

Testing and Accountability

March 17, 2021

California could allow school districts to choose their own standardized tests this year

Groups opposing local assessments argue that the results will not be easily or accurately compared on a statewide level.

Sydney Johnson

Covid: One Year Later

March 15, 2021

Distance learning changed California education. What’s here to stay?

Teachers pushed through difficult days to find solutions that kept kids learning during an upended school year. Some changes may stick.

Sydney Johnson

Legislation

March 12, 2021

California agency that oversees for-profit colleges to face critics

The agency that regulates California’s 1800 for-profit colleges needs reauthorization from the Legislature to keep operating. Lawmakers say they want it to do a better job protecting the 260,000 students at for-profit schools.

Thomas Peele

High-needs students

March 10, 2021

Quick Guide: California's road map for students learning English

A guide to California's English Learner Roadmap, which provides guidance on how to be responsive to the needs of English learner students by giving meaningful and accessible instruction, aligning goals across education systems, and more.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Coronavirus

March 4, 2021

California Legislature approves plan to encourage schools to reopen for in-person instruction

The bill provides $2 billion in incentives for schools to reopen for special needs and other students, beginning with the earliest grades.

Carolyn Jones And Louis Freedberg

Commentary

March 1, 2021

This moment calls for radical care for all our children

Whenever and however schools open for in-person instruction — during and after the pandemic — we cannot go back to business as usual.

Tyrone C. Howard

Teacher Survey Project

February 26, 2021

California veteran teachers say they’re working harder and longer, often with little district help

Teachers surveyed report they’ve relied primarily on their colleagues and themselves to figure out teaching during the pandemic.

John Fensterwald

Homeless Youth

February 24, 2021

Homeless students in L.A. charter schools struggle more than peers at traditional schools, study finds

New research shows graduation rates among homeless students at charter schools are more than a third lower than those at traditional public schools.

Carolyn Jones

Distance Learning

February 19, 2021

Veteran teachers surveyed worry about Covid’s long-term harm on California students

In the first of a series capturing teachers' experiences, most express alarm over the pandemic's impact on learning and mental health.

John Fensterwald

Commentary

February 17, 2021

New tools can help us better address student trauma

Online platform can help teachers spot and respond to students who are struggling.