July 2, 2020

Some teachers unions, districts at odds over live distance learning instruction

The California Teachers Association says a 45-year-old law on classroom recordings prevents districts from requiring live online instruction.

John Fensterwald

July 2, 2020

Small California school districts face overwhelming challenges to reopen schools

California’s smallest school districts struggle to pay for supplies, staff and technology needed to reopen schools.

Diana Lambert

July 1, 2020

Oakland Unified wants voters to approve $735 million bond for school upgrades

Bond measure to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot would cover one-fifth of the $3.4 billion need identified in a Facilities Master Plan.

Theresa Harrington

July 1, 2020

Community colleges struggle with students’ food needs as pandemic increases demand

As food needs for California's community college students have increased, their campus food pantries face stagnant budgets.

Betty Márquez Rosales

July 1, 2020

Guide to California’s education budget deferrals: pros, cons and costs of delayed payments

School districts prefer late payments to budget cuts but some districts will bear a larger burden, and it may be years before deferrals are paid off.

John Fensterwald

June 26, 2020

California Legislature approves state budget; here are the highlights for education funding

Legislators spared K-12 schools and community colleges cuts, but will force them to borrow billions and rely on more stimulus aid from Congress.

EdSource staff

June 25, 2020

California school leaders ambivalent as they await vote on state budget

They're grateful that their budgets won't be cut, but worry about added expenses and the uncertainty of planning for a return to school in a pandemic.

John Fensterwald

June 25, 2020

California schools must provide daily live interaction, access to technology this fall

California lawmakers introduced distance learning provisions around instructional time, attendance and connecting with parents.

Sydney Johnson

June 25, 2020

Some California teaching credential requirements will ease thanks to budget deal

The new California budget makes it easier for teacher candidates affected by coronavirus-related closures to complete credentials.

Diana Lambert

June 23, 2020

In California budget deal, no cuts for K-12 but billions in late payments to schools

Under the agreement, teachers and some – but not all – of other school employees would be protected from layoffs for the year.

John Fensterwald

June 19, 2020

Superintendents, school boards attack ban on layoffs they suspect could be in state budget

A possible state budget agreement would require a tradeoff of no cuts for K-12 schools in exchange for no layoffs of school employees for one year.

John Fensterwald

June 12, 2020

No deal yet on California school funding; Legislature ready to pass its own budget

Gov. Newsom would cut $6.4 billion in school funding if Congress doesn’t deliver more stimulus aid. The Legislature would issue more IOUs to schools instead.

John Fensterwald

June 11, 2020

More explicit guidance for distance learning sparks debate in Legislature

Parents and student advocacy groups are demanding better remote instruction than what many children, especially in low-income schools, have received.

John Fensterwald

June 5, 2020

Gov. Newsom won’t bend on directing billions to low-income students’ learning loss

The governor and the Legislature are at odds over how to distribute federal coronavirus relief; Newsom cites growing achievement gap.

John Fensterwald

June 3, 2020

California lawmakers would spare K-12 schools from any budget cuts

Both Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are betting Congress will deliver tens of billions more in aid to states.

John Fensterwald