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

May 12, 2022

Computer Science is everywhere in our world but almost nowhere in California schools

The governor and the Legislature should use the state budget to finally invest in the computer science teachers who are guiding California’s students.

Allison Scott, Art Lopez and Susan Bonilla

Student Well-Being

May 3, 2022

Ukrainian students arriving in California find warm welcome at schools

California schools are extending a warm welcome to Ukrainians who've fled the fighting in their homeland. At least 60,000 Ukrainian immigrants live in California, the second-highest population in the U.S.

Carolyn Jones

Commentary

May 2, 2022

As bilingual programs expand, let's keep an eye on equity for English learners

As the popularity of dual immersion bilingual schools grows, we must also help English learners and their families understand that these programs can benefit them, too.

Anya Hurwitz

Q&A

April 28, 2022

A former judge leads plan to overhaul California’s juvenile justice system

Judge Katherine Lucero is leading California’s massive transformation of its juvenile justice system by June 2023. In this Q&A, Lucero provides insight into how she plans to lead the shift.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Bilingual Education

April 20, 2022

To find more bilingual teachers, California needs to cast a wider net

Some experts say California needs to expand the number of programs that offer bilingual teaching authorizations and recruit new potential teachers.

Zaidee Stavely

Commentary

April 19, 2022

Digital equity must remain a priority as California schools get back to normal

There is a growing gap between communities that have access to the internet and computers and those that do not. It's time to fix that in California.

Ana Ponce

Literacy

April 18, 2022

A small town in Kern County contemplates turning its community library into a police station

A petition pits the supporters of a county library branch against the small California city of McFarland's plan to convert it to a police headquarters.

Emma Gallegos

English Learners

April 7, 2022

LA schools make headway with English learners, but challenges remain

Many Los Angeles County districts are changing some English language development classes to make them more engaging and so that they meet college entrance requirements.

Zaidee Stavely

Homeless Youth

March 30, 2022

After living in her van in a city lot, she now feeds others who park there

Four months ago, Tami Rossell was living out of her van with her three youngest children and parking each night in city-designated safe parking zones. Today, she helps feed the homeless families who were once her neighbors in the lots.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Commentary

March 21, 2022

We must focus on equity as California tackles declining enrollment

As California policymakers grapple with the fiscal implications of declining school enrollment, they must seize the opportunity to address equity.

Robert Manwaring

Commentary

March 18, 2022

California's new math framework offers path to greater excellence and equity

California's new math framework builds on the practices of countries with the best outcomes for teaching math and provides guidance on how to develop students’ belief in their own ability to learn.

Phil Daro

Juvenile Justice

March 14, 2022

Report finds schools in L.A. County's youth justice system lacking

A recent citizens review of the L.A. County juvenile justice system found that the classrooms lack a "culture of learning" and that the quality of the instruction offered "is generally far below expectations."

Betty Márquez Rosales

English Learners

March 7, 2022

Will a universal screening test for dyslexia mislabel California’s English learners?

Some California teachers and researchers say tests must be carefully designed to avoid misdiagnosing dyslexia in students who are learning English.

Zaidee Stavely

Preparation

February 24, 2022

Act now to meet California's critical shortage of multilingual educators

The potential for a bilingual California is not pie in the sky, but a real seed rooted in our diverse communities — but it will take investment to make it a reality.

Eduardo Muñoz-Muñoz

Commentary

February 17, 2022

To fix our education crisis, let’s focus on educating

California's education system is doing a woeful job of teaching Black and Latino students.