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.

Commentary

January 19, 2021

It’s time to reimagine the school campus as a community center

The pandemic has created an opening to reexamine how schools operate and rethink how space is allocated.

Kate Mraw

Policy & Finance

January 15, 2021

Investing in college success: Perspectives on Gov. Newsom’s higher ed budget

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

Andrew Reed

Policy & Finance

January 13, 2021

In the right direction? Perspectives on Gov. Newsom’s education budget

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s early education and K-12 budget proposals.

Andrew Reed

Statewide Longitudinal Data System

January 12, 2021

California’s ’cradle-to-career’ data system in line to receive $15 million for next phase

The funds are included in Newsom's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, and will cover the first year of a what is expected to take 5 years to fully build out the system.

Louis Freedberg

State Education Policy

December 16, 2020

Long sought after ’cradle to career’ education data system for California comes with hefty price tag

A year-long planning process culminates in recommendations for the data system expected to be sent to Gov. Newsom this week.

Louis Freedberg

Community Colleges

December 8, 2020

More California community college students are taking transfer-level courses, but critics say colleges must do more

After taking full effect last fall, AB 705 has transformed remedial education at California’s community colleges.

Michael Burke

Los Angeles Unified

November 25, 2020

Los Angeles charter schools offered reprieve amid pandemic

Citing “unprecedented circumstances” related to Covid-19, L.A. Unified chose to renew four charter schools that otherwise met the criteria to be denied renewal under a new law.

Michael Burke

Statewide Longitudinal Data System

November 16, 2020

Work on new ‘cradle to career’ data system accelerates, amid concerns about continuing state financial support

Unlike most states, California does not have a data system to track students’ pathways from K–12 schools to college and into the workplace.

Matt Krupnick

School Finance

October 14, 2020

California governor’s Supreme Court nominee wrote opinion derailing adequate school funding case

As an appellate judge, Martin Jenkins concluded the state Constitution doesn’t require minimum funding for schools; that’s for lawmakers to determine.

John Fensterwald

Commentary

October 11, 2020

State lawmakers hurt charter schools, online learning with funding deal

The budget for the new fiscal year froze funding for schools at their 2019-20 level, preventing additional state funding for growing schools with increased numbers of students in the fall.