January 27, 2023

California teachers call on their districts for contractual commitment to community schools

Local teachers unions in the middle of bargaining with their districts want to see community schools included in their contracts.

Ali Tadayon

January 17, 2023

Reactions to the governor's K-12 education budget proposals

Leaders representing all segments of California's education system share their reactions to the governor’s proposed 2023-24 budget for the state's K-12 public schools.

EdSource staff

January 4, 2023

California’s school finance ratings: D for adequacy, B for equity, F for effort — but on the upswing

California ranks 33rd in 2019-20, adjusted for its cost of living, spending $13,686 per student in state and local funding. Its method of funding poor districts is one of the nation's most equitable.

John Fensterwald

December 9, 2022

Does your district have what it takes to significantly improve?

Pivot Learning releases the District Readiness Index, a database for measuring how well California districts have met the conditions needed to make sustainable change.

John Fensterwald

November 7, 2022

New biography examines Michael Kirst's impact on public education in California and beyond

Kirst , who was president of the State Board of Education for all four of Jerry Brown’s terms as governor, co-authored the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald

November 1, 2022

California's accountability system is failing English learners

The California School Dashboard masks the needs of English learners, leading to low expectations for these students and resulting in many districts not planning for their support and success.

Martha Hernandez

September 2, 2022

Gov. Newsom quashes bill to provide more funding for Black students

An unstated reason was Prop. 209, banning preferences by race; governor promises more funding somehow for state's lowest performing student group next year

John Fensterwald

June 29, 2022

Charter schools, abundant in California, could be a Supreme Court target

Critics of the Carson v. Makin decision are warning that charter schools could be drawn into the next skirmish over religious expression.

John Fensterwald

June 28, 2022

Gov. Newsom strikes deal on state budget: big increase for K-12, plan to expand Cal Grant, too

Compromise includes 13% more for funding formula, extra for community schools, student transportation, school construction, literacy coaches and expansion of Cal Grants.

John Fensterwald And Michael Burke

June 22, 2022

Proposed mathematics pathways for California high school students raise equity concerns

California's new mathematics framework must increase access to advanced math but also ensure that all students have the preparation they need for college and careers in STEM fields.

Richard Ford

June 22, 2022

California Prop. 13’s 'unjust legacy' detailed in critical study

Study recommends no specific fix to 1978 property tax limit initiative, but the Opportunity Institute and Pivot Learning cite many reasons to consider reforms.

John Fensterwald

June 17, 2022

Advocates for community schools support more funding but call for fixes to program

Tight deadlines and rigid qualifications were among the concerns raised by supporters of the state's multi-year community schools initiative

Ali Tadayon

June 15, 2022

Students in personalized learning schools deserve equitable funding

Personalized learning offers an alternative to students who don't thrive in traditional classroom settings. These public schools need the same protections against the financial disruptions of pandemic-related enrollment declines as other California schools.

Jeff Rice

June 14, 2022

It's time for win-win district and charter relationships to address declining enrollment   

Educating children shouldn’t be a Machiavellian zero-sum game.

Janie Dam

June 10, 2022

How an East Bay school turns into a community school under California's model

Hundreds of campuses are slated to become community schools over the next five years; Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration urges more funding to meet the demand

Ali Tadayon