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Policy & Finance
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State Board of Education

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.

Credentialing
June 30, 2022

Nearly 1 out of 5 classes in California taught by underprepared teachers

A new state database of teacher assignments shows that 17% of K-12 classes in 2020-21 were taught by teachers without the credential or training to teach the course.

Diana Lambert, Daniel J. Willis, And Yuxuan Xie
Commentary
May 18, 2022

California must consider rural districts' unique realities for community schools grants

Innovative program that allowed rural districts to collaborate to create and expand community school programs runs into a surprising roadblock.

Julie Boesch and Tim Taylor
Community Schools & Partnerships
May 12, 2022

California set to launch hundreds of community schools with $635 million in grants

The state's "whole child" model stresses collaborating with parents, teachers and community organizations; 265 districts are to receive initial funding.

John Fensterwald
State Education Policy
March 18, 2022

California revises new math framework to keep backlash at bay

Drafters of revision tempered language, reiterated local control of 8th grade Algebra and reemphasized high-level math options are for all students.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
November 5, 2021

One district's faulty data shouldn't drive California's math policy

California's 2022 revision of the mathematics framework should be where we come together to improve on what actually works — and be based on peer-reviewed data.

Seeyew Mo
State Education Policy
October 4, 2021

How California's commitment to safety is leading us out of the pandemic

The history of pandemics illustrates the importance of continued vigilance.

Linda Darling-Hammond
Testing and Accountability
September 10, 2021

California will give a short version of its standardized math and English tests next spring

State Board agrees to cut as much as 2 hours from lengthy Smarter Balanced assessments; parents won't receive as many details as in past.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
September 1, 2021

California leads the way on safe school reopening

The surest path to safe and full in-person instruction throughout the school year is a strong emphasis on these reliable prevention measures: vaccines, masks, testing, tracing, and ventilation.

Linda Darling-Hammond
Math and Science
May 20, 2021

California math curriculum spurs new controversy about accelerated learning

Voluntary guidance for math instruction faces criticism from parents saying it stunts potential for students in advanced math pathways.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
May 4, 2021

Hundreds of thousands of California students won’t take statewide standardized tests this spring

California released updated guidance for school districts deciding whether Smarter Balanced or a local assessment is their more viable option.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
May 3, 2021

California state board likely to adopt long-awaited ‘student growth model’ to measure test scores

The new method of tracking individual students' Smarter Balanced scores should provide a more useful measure of schools' and districts' progress.

John Fensterwald
Testing and Accountability
April 8, 2021

Local assessments an option if Smarter Balanced tests ‘not viable,’ U.S. education officials affirm

California state officials have not yet outlined in detail what conditions must exist for a district to select an alternative assessment.

Sydney Johnson
Testing and Accountability
April 2, 2021

Local assessments an option if statewide tests aren't viable during pandemic, California officials signal

California’s plan would still offer Smarter Balanced assessments in math and English language arts, the California Science Test, as well as tests for English learners.

Sydney Johnson
Race and Equity
March 17, 2021

A final vote, after many rewrites, for California's controversial ethnic studies curriculum

The state model curriculum will provide guidelines, but districts will face the hard decisions on what and how to teach ethnic studies.

John Fensterwald
Testing and Accountability
January 14, 2021

California school officials push for standardized testing waiver amid Covid-19 spike

California education officials voted to shorten annual tests in math and reading after federal officials said waivers would not be available in 2021.

Sydney Johnson