November 5, 2020

Shorter exams will replace California’s annual Smarter Balanced tests

Federal education officials said they will not waive testing requirements for the 2020-21 school year. 

Sydney Johnson

November 5, 2020

Unclear ballot language, lack of time to connect with voters explain affirmative action loss, backers say

Confusing ballot language, lack of time to get a clear message to voters and misreading public support contributed to the decisive loss of Prop. 16

Thomas Peele

November 4, 2020

One incumbent, one newcomer on track to win pivotal school board races in Los Angeles

The next school board will be seated in December and likely have one new face: Tanya Ortiz Franklin, a former teacher.

Michael Burke

November 4, 2020

California to consider shorter Smarter Balanced tests this spring

The State Board of Education will vote this week on whether to shorten the state’s annual standardized tests in math and English language arts.

Sydney Johnson

November 3, 2020

California’s Proposition 15, to raise commercial property taxes, in tight race

The first effort in 42 years to change Prop. 13 would provide $2.6 billion to $4.6 billion for K-12 schools and community colleges.

John Fensterwald

November 3, 2020

California voters rejecting Proposition 16 to restore affirmative action

With 100% of the precincts reporting, voters are rejecting return of affirmative action in California. At least several million mail-in, provisional and same-day registration ballots were still being counted.

Thomas Peele

November 3, 2020

Live election results for Propositions 15, 16 and 18

Three measures on the California ballot for the Nov. 3 election have implications for California’s public education system and young people.

Yuxuan Xie

November 3, 2020

Leading school superintendents ask Gov. Newsom to impose a ‘common standard’ for reopening schools in California

Along with more Covid testing of students, the superintendents want the state to set standards covering all aspects of reopening schools.

John Fensterwald

November 3, 2020

Biden’s exhaustive education agenda — and Trump’s skimpy one — get short shrift during long campaign

Focus on Donald Trump and pandemic meant that Biden’s many education proposals got little airing during the campaign.

Louis Freedberg

November 3, 2020

California school districts revert to A-F grades this fall — with more flexibility for some students

California school districts have for the most part resumed A-F grading for the 2020-2021 school year, despite students learning from home.

Ali Tadayon

November 2, 2020

Tuition-free college is critical to our economy

Research shows that the private and public economic benefit of free college tuition would outweigh the cost.

Morley Winograd and Max Lubin

November 2, 2020

How new law requiring ethnic studies at California State University will affect community colleges

New ethnic studies class will likely be required as part of lower-division coursework, which many students complete at community college.

Michael Burke

October 30, 2020

Students getting in-person instruction at accelerating pace in California

There are wide variations in how students are being taught across California, as most of state’s largest districts stick with distance learning.

Louis Freedberg And Alexander Montero

October 30, 2020

Yes on Prop. 16 has big fundraising lead in effort to restore affirmative action in California

Despite being outspent, the No on Prop. 16 campaign is leading in at least one statewide poll.

Thomas Peele And Daniel J. Willis

October 29, 2020

Dropping affirmative action had huge impact on California’s public universities

When California voters in 1996 rejected affirmative action, CSU and UC could no longer consider race and ethnicity in admissions, making a huge impact on the public universities.

Thomas Peele And Daniel J. Willis