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State Board

The State Board of Education oversees the adoption and implementation of K-12 academic standards, such as the Common Core. It also adopts instructional materials for K-8. The Legislature handed the Board the job of setting rules for implementing the Local Control Funding Formula. The governor appoints 10 of its 11 members to four-year terms. The Board annually appoints an 11th voting member, a high school student.

April 3, 2018

Student activist from Oakland appointed to California’s Board of Education

Oakland Unified junior says protecting undocumented students and their families from deportation is the most important issue to her.

Theresa Harrington
March 29, 2018

Districts must do more to reduce low-income schools' share of inexperienced, ineffective teachers under new federal law

Effectiveness has nothing to do with teachers' impact or performance, as California defines it under the new federal law.

John Fensterwald
February 28, 2018

Forecast for California school climates remains cloudy without good data, advocates say

School districts are trying a variety of strategies aimed at creating safe and welcoming school environments, but there is controversy over the role and frequency of student surveys, and how to use them.

David Washburn
February 15, 2018

Michael Kirst weighs another 4 years on state education board after Gov. Brown departs

The governor also renominated Patricia Rucker and Ting Sun to the state board.

John Fensterwald
February 13, 2018

Understanding California education department's role in state's charter schools: A quick guide

The state charter schools division advises the state board on charter school issues and provides grants to schools.

George White
December 27, 2017

Federal government finds flaws in California’s plan to improve lowest-performing schools

Is state board exercising flexibility or violating the Every Student Succeeds Act?

John Fensterwald
December 3, 2017

24 ideas for improving the Local Control Funding Formula

EdSource sought the advice of experts, advocates and observers; common themes emerged on improving Gov. Jerry Brown's landmark law.

John Fensterwald
November 27, 2017

State board’s next challenge: how to measure school climate, the heartbeat of a school

Study group recommends that districts conduct an annual survey of parents, students and teachers on school safety and students' wellbeing.

John Fensterwald
November 6, 2017

California state board asked to reject textbooks that fall short on LGBT contributions

Two K-8 texts by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt did not comply with state's History Social Science Framework, according to Instructional Quality Commission.

Theresa Harrington
September 12, 2017

California's education plan must be more transparent about student performance

State can support schools and districts without shame and blame while also showing clearly how students are doing.

Samantha Tran
September 11, 2017

California's education plan affirms commitment to local control

California's ESSA plan meets the federal government’s requirements while affirming the state's commitment to local control that allows teachers, principals and superintendents to meet the needs of our diverse students.

Michael Kirst
August 25, 2017

Understanding the Common Core State Standards in California: A quick guide

California remains strongly committed to Common Core standards in math and English language arts, which focus on critical thinking and problem-solving. The standards have been adopted by more than 40 states.

Theresa Harrington
July 17, 2017

State board, advocacy groups fundamentally disagree over plan for complying with federal education law

Is the state's bare-bones response to the Every Student Succeeds Act a shrewd tactic or a missed opportunity?

John Fensterwald
April 24, 2017

Controversial charter bill could face prolonged fight in Legislature

Californians on both sides of the charter school debate can expect another year of hearings over Senate Bill 808, a bill that critics claim could lead to the shuttering of many charter schools.

Mikhail Zinshteyn
April 6, 2017

Local control formula closing funding gap but not equity gap, report says

Education Trust–West presses for tracking spending at the school level.

John Fensterwald