EXPLORE: Podcast: Gov. Newsom bets big on teacher residenciesRural California: An Education DivideYear in Review
Topic

Reforms

Current reforms to public education include the new Common Core State Standards for learning, the Local Control Funding Formula for school districts, the rise of charter schools and the growth of partnerships between schools, nonprofits, businesses and other government agencies. You will also find reporting about new initiatives and smaller reforms throughout the EdSource site.
January 17, 2020

Closing a middle school and converting others to K-8 stirs opposition

The school board and others in West Contra Costa Unified did not approve a plan to convert six elementary schools into K-8 schools next year.

Theresa Harrington
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
January 15, 2020

California Voices: Education leaders speak out on Gov. Newsom's budget proposals

Leaders representing all segments of California's education system share their reactions to the governor’s budget proposals.

EdSource staff
January 9, 2020

New efforts to make school spending in California more transparent 

State board makes it easier to follow the money; two bills would impose even stricter reporting requirements.

John Fensterwald
January 3, 2020

Gavin Newsom's 1st-year K-12 scorecard: good grades on priorities and some incompletes

He forged a compromise to revise California's charter school law and gave districts unexpected help to pay employee pension obligations.

John Fensterwald
December 19, 2019

Chris Steinhauser to retire after 18 years leading Long Beach Unified

He is one of the longest-serving urban superintendents, praised for his collaborative style and his role in improving student achievement.

John Fensterwald
December 5, 2019

Requiring fourth year of high school math will leave more students behind

Many schools serving low-income students already fail to offer all the courses needed for admission to CSU campuses.

Elisha Smith Arrillaga
November 26, 2019

Protesters file excessive force claim against Oakland Unified

Nine district parents and teachers say police injured them during an Oct. 23 board meeting where they were protesting school closures.

Theresa Harrington
November 20, 2019

California Democratic Party says charter schools should have publicly elected boards

The approval of stronger language in the party platform comes as criticism of charter schools mounts among Democratic presidential candidates.

Louis Freedberg
November 8, 2019

Oakland school board closes meeting to public, citing protests

No protesters showed up, prompting some critics to allege the board violated open meeting laws in its attempt to prevent disruptions.

Theresa Harrington
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
November 4, 2019

Oakland Unified moves forward with school closures despite protests

District officials offer to meet with protesters as Oakland and state teachers' unions echo demands for school closure moratorium until 2022.

Theresa Harrington
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 30, 2019

Mandating later school start times in California impinges on local control

Research shows later start times improve academic performance, but many in education community opposed being required to start later.

Louis Freedberg
October 16, 2019

Four lessons I learned from California’s Hollister prep on closing learning gaps

Improving student learning requires both academic rigor and flexibility in working with students based on their individual needs.

Lauren Schwartze