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.

July 17, 2019

Educators learn early results of Gates initiative to improve student outcomes

Helping students of color and low income students to graduate and succeed in college and beyond requires a new strategy that is getting major funding from the Gates Foundation.

Rose Ciotta

July 12, 2019

New charter schools to open this fall despite efforts to curb growth

Four charter schools will open after each was initially denied by its local school board, forcing the schools to turn to county boards.

Michael Burke

July 11, 2019

10 California districts struggle, and find some success, as they shift to Common Core math

Studies of the Math in Common project offer lessons for other districts and a warning: Steady progress takes a long-term commitment.

John Fensterwald

July 9, 2019

Governor's team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill

Senate hearing indicates that further changes will be needed to reach a deal on a bill charter school leaders fear would cripple growth.

John Fensterwald

July 2, 2019

How school districts can use limited resources strategically to enhance student success

Fresno Unified and San Diego Unified case studies show how districts can effectively target resources.

Joe McKown and Christina Baumgardner

July 1, 2019

For many, attending racially mixed schools has been a life changer

Abandoning school desegregation as a top priority was a mistake, UC Berkeley professor says.

David Kirp

June 25, 2019

California finally to move ahead with 'cradle to career' data system

With Gavin Newsom embracing what Jerry Brown opposed, the Legislature sets the timetable and steps for creating a longitudinal education data system to help shape better education programs and policies.

John Fensterwald And Louis Freedberg

June 19, 2019

Charter school authorizers come under greater scrutiny in California

Most school districts oversee only a handful of charter schools, and lack the skills or resources to fully oversee them.

Louis Freedberg

June 11, 2019

Statewide messages in aftermath of LA parcel tax’s defeat

The failure of Measure EE underscores how hard it is to capture a two-thirds majority needed for approval of a parcel tax and the challenges ahead to pass a 'split-roll' initiative to raise businesses' property taxes.

John Fensterwald

June 7, 2019

Gov. Newsom’s task force recommends more discretion to deny charter schools

The group reached a consensus on giving school districts the power to consider the “saturation” by and the academic need for charter schools.

John Fensterwald

June 7, 2019

Charter schools cost East Bay district nearly $1,000 per student, report asserts

Charter school association says report, commissioned by the West Contra Costa Unified School District, is “pure propaganda.”

Theresa Harrington

June 4, 2019

California needs all its K-12 public schools to be strong: traditional and charter

State should preserve appeals process for charter schools, former State Board member says.

Trish Boyd Williams

June 3, 2019

Drive to cap California charter school growth stalls

Sponsoring legislators make their proposals two-year bills after a lack of support.

Louis Freedberg

May 29, 2019

Unchecked, decades-long experiment with charter schools yields unintended consequences

Elected leaders in Sacramento must pass laws to support students by curtailing growth of charter schools, teacher says.

Erika Jones

May 28, 2019

California governor and lawmakers at odds over new special education funding

Legislators and advocates for students with disabilities praise the big increase that Gov. Newsom proposes for special education but reject his idea for spending it.