Social and Emotional Learning

Can more freedom and less parental hovering help kids thrive?

September 26, 2024

When Lenore Skenazy let her nine-year-old son ride the subway alone in New York, she was labeled "America's Worst Mom." She says schools and parents need to give kids more free play and independence.

Zaidee Stavely

Temecula Valley Unified CRT ban has created a hostile school environment, lawsuit says

August 2, 2023

A ban on the teaching of critical race theory is censoring teachers and taking away students' rights to an education, according to a lawsuit filed against Temecula Valley Unified Wednesday.

Diana Lambert

Proposition 28 a windfall for arts education, but implementation poses challenges

June 26, 2023

In arts education, as in the arts, experts say, collaboration is often the key. A small school in a rural district might join forces with another school to share a dance teacher, for example. 

Karen D'Souza

Commentary

Two bills would sharpen and streamline California's school-based mental health efforts

June 14, 2023

Two legislative proposals would give youth a direct voice in existing mental health spending in school-based behavioral health centers, reduce red tape and make it easier for school districts to draw down federal funding already set aside for this purpose.

Debra Schade and Travis Hodges

Commentary

How our schools can address California’s youth mental health crisis — now

April 13, 2023

California's new investments in the long-term mental health of our children are laudable, but students need help today.

Cora Palma

Commentary

We cannot allow our education to be automated

November 9, 2022

An overreliance on technology eliminates the verbal interaction between students, their peers, and their teachers and takes the learning out of the classroom and onto the screen.

Adam Abolfazli

Commentary

Restorative practices create belonging and trust for teachers as well as students

October 18, 2022

A punitive approach to students' missteps does nothing to show them that adults care about them.

Louise Williamson

Commentary

College not always the answer to teaching students how to live meaningful lives

October 11, 2022

We must begin the courageous process of decentralizing college as the primary option after high school and focus on careers and ways of being that actually lead to sustainability.

Tiffani Marie

Commentary

We need to fix professional development for teachers

September 26, 2022

Instead of long, arduous training about content they are already experts in, schools should offer training that is engaging and focused on content enrichment.

Kati Begen

Commentary

To solve our mental health crisis, give more children equal access to play

August 23, 2022

Many public schools have defunded sports programs, and most offer physical education just a few days a week, reinforcing a pay-to-play youth sports culture with few free and low-cost opportunities at a time when they are most needed.

Renata Simril 

Hope, relief and lessons learned: Teachers anticipate a smoother school year 

August 19, 2022

EdSource roundtable put a spotlight on teachers' challenges and expectations for the year.

Carolyn Jones

Commentary

Berkeley High foils attack but schools still need help to keep students safe

July 6, 2022

Students at Berkeley High — and every other school in the United States — are being made to feel less safe by a Supreme Court intent on expanding “gun rights.”

Louis Freedberg

Strategic plan aims to prepare students for life beyond Los Angeles Unified

June 22, 2022

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho's plan, which aims to create a foundation for student success, will shape district priorities for the next four years.

Kate Sequeira

Can arts education help kids heal from the trauma of the pandemic?

June 9, 2022

The arts can be a safe haven for California schoolchildren to face big emotions, experts say, to channel fears and frustrations into acts of creativity.

Karen D'Souza

Commentary

Reframing school as an identity playground: A space for exploration and affirmation

May 10, 2022

When students are encouraged to explore exactly who they are and who their classmates are — and not to expect everyone to conform to one homogenous view of the world — school becomes not just a place of education, but one of humanity.

Leigh Dela Victoria