January 21, 2019

Required tests roadblock for many aspiring California teachers

Almost half of California’s potential teachers quit the profession before they even start because they can't pass one or more of the tests required for them to earn a credential, making it more difficult for the state to put a dent in a persistent teacher shortage.

Diana Lambert

January 8, 2019

Michael Kirst's parting advice: more teacher and principal training is critical to success of local control

In an exit interview, retiring state board President Michael Kirst urges more attention to professional development for teachers and principals, discusses the need for more school funding, an expanded school database and a new agency focused on children's needs.

John Fensterwald

December 13, 2018

What California can learn from universal preschool in other states

Some states have successfully expanded both access and the quality of their preschool programs. Here’s what some early learning advocates and researchers say California could learn from them.

Zaidee Stavely

November 19, 2018

Preschoolers take on math with the help of college students

Preschool Counts, a program piloted by Stanford University in 2013, is boosting early math skills by pairing undergraduate students with preschoolers to practice math through games and other activities.

Ashley Hopkinson

September 17, 2018

Multifaceted reforms needed to reach California’s education goals, research project finds

Getting Down to Facts II finds strong support for education reforms but also obstacles to student achievement and a need for more funding.

John Fensterwald

September 17, 2018

Essential Guide to Getting Down to Facts II

Here are the take-aways from the studies on special education, funding needs, a teacher shortage, a data deficit, student mental health local control's unmet potential – and more.

John Fensterwald, Daniel J. Willis, Yuxuan Xie, And Justin Allen

August 15, 2018

California gets high grade in measuring teachers’ reading instruction skills

Linda Darling-Hammond, chair of teacher credentialing commission, calls the state assessment out of date and not a good predictor of classroom performance.

John Fensterwald

July 26, 2018

Best way to improve student math scores? Change teachers’ attitudes, study says

Scores rose 8 points after teachers took a course designed to improve their own knowledge.

Carolyn Jones

July 24, 2018

Preparing teachers to personalize their classrooms

Summit charter schools' teacher residency program is the first to focus on personalized learning.

Joanne Jacobs

July 23, 2018

Charter school network spreads 'personalized learning' model nationwide

With help from Facebook, an online learning platform helps personalize instruction and allows students to progress at their own pace.

Joanne Jacobs

April 25, 2018

Despite progress, California's teaching force far from reflecting diversity of students

In some cases, the diversity gap between teachers and students in California has widened.

Louis Freedberg

April 24, 2018

Rural schools find ways to bring science innovations closer to home

Mobile science labs, Skype lessons with scientists and robotics workshops are among the offerings at some remote schools.

Carolyn Jones

March 28, 2018

New Teacher Center releases standards to support beginning teachers

Standards focus on equity and achievement gap, teacher retention and leadership, academic standards, coaching, and school climate.

Theresa Harrington

February 7, 2018

Trump's proposed cuts to science education would be 'devastating,' educators say

NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and teacher training grants face more than $3 billion in cuts as Congress debates 2018 budget.

Carolyn Jones

January 21, 2018

New science standards a boon for the littlest learners

Hands-on science projects emphasized in California's new science standards are a hit with K-2 students, teachers say.

Carolyn Jones