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High-needs students
Topic

Low-Income Students

The majority of California’s students come from families with incomes of less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level and qualify for free- and reduced-price meals. These students often face obstacles to succeed in school. California’s funding formula provides more funding for schools to serve children who are low-income.
February 21, 2020

Why test scores matter

Test scores are only one measure of a student, but they can be used to dispel stereotypes and promote higher achievement, superintendent says.

Frank Donavan
February 7, 2020

Less than a third of California students met or exceeded standards on new science test

The results are the first set of scores for a new test aligned with California’s new science standards.

Sydney Johnson
January 31, 2020

California school officials reassure immigrant parents after ruling limiting benefits

School officials report families are concerned about signing up for school lunch and other services.

Zaidee Stavely
January 15, 2020

San Francisco Bay Area parents declare state of emergency over district’s failure to educate black children

Parents want the district to allocate $7.2 million to improve services for the district’s 5,000 African-American students.

Theresa Harrington
December 19, 2019

College admissions tests are a poor indicator of college readiness

Removing tests from admissions process would allow UC to recruit and educate California’s best and brightest from all backgrounds.

Mo Hyman
December 18, 2019

A California school’s alumni adviser hits the road to ease 1st-year college students’ jitters

Team of mentors and counselors from San Jose charter high keep in touch to ease transition to college for first-generation college students.

John Fensterwald
December 12, 2019

Some ratings rise in 3rd year of California School Dashboard

Fewer districts will require help from county offices, but colors tell a bigger story; disparities among student groups persist.

John Fensterwald
November 6, 2019

State audit finds education money not serving high-needs students, calls for changes in funding law

After examining three districts' spending, State Auditor Elaine Howle calls for tighter controls over Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald
October 31, 2019

Shorter, clearer (but maybe not more transparent) school accountability plan coming

The state board will deliver an LCAP template that will be easier to read, but it probably still won't be easy to follow the money.

John Fensterwald
October 9, 2019

Slow growth, big disparities after 5 years of Smarter Balanced tests

Average scores have been rising in English language arts, but dropping in math as students progress through middle and high school — a cause for worry.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis
September 24, 2019

School boards group committed to tax plan despite legislative setback

Backers of a planned $15 billion tax initiative for the November 2020 ballot hope they can win over the California Teachers Association.

John Fensterwald
August 8, 2019

Smaller classes, more novice teachers: the 'tradeoff‘ for low-income California schools

A new study overcomes challenges from a lack of transparency to compare schools' spending under the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald
July 30, 2019

LA Unified’s spending and accountability plan should be rejected and rewritten, says advocates’ complaint

Public Advocates argues the district doesn’t show how $1.2 billion in extra funding will benefit English learners and low-income students.

John Fensterwald
February 21, 2019

Support, strengthen education reforms in California, new report urges

Learning Policy Institute says schools need more funding, teachers need more support and the public needs more help understanding where the money goes.

John Fensterwald
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