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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.

State Board of Education
September 11, 2020

Gov. Newsom names attorney for dual role as adviser, state education board executive director

Allen has been a civil rights lawyer and deputy education policy director. He’ll juggle two jobs serving both Newsom and the state board.

John Fensterwald
Curriculum
August 1, 2020

New draft ethnic studies curriculum for California students issued after a year of study

The revision stresses inclusion but keeps focus on four ethnic/racial groups: African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans.

John Fensterwald
State Board of Education
July 9, 2020

Gov. Newsom names three members to California’s State Board of Education

Riverside administrator Cynthia Glover Woods, Yurok Tribe leader James McQuillen and bilingual high school teacher Haydee Rodriguez join the board.

John Fensterwald
State Education Policy
March 26, 2020

In her own words: Linda Darling-Hammond on California’s school response to the coronavirus

Darling-Hammond says state will double down to support school districts, families and students.

EdSource Staff
Commentary
November 19, 2019

California must build the capacity of its public universities to admit more computer science majors

The state is promoting computer science in K-12 schools, but UC and CSU colleges lack bandwidth to meet the demand.

Trish Boyd Williams and Sathya Narayanan
Local Control Funding Formula
November 6, 2019

State audit finds education money not serving high-needs students, calls for changes in funding law

After examining three districts' spending, State Auditor Elaine Howle calls for tighter controls over Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald
Local Control Funding Formula
October 31, 2019

Shorter, clearer (but maybe not more transparent) school accountability plan coming

The state board will deliver an LCAP template that will be easier to read, but it probably still won't be easy to follow the money.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
October 11, 2019

For better insights into California's new test results, look at achievement over time

Analytical tools that are available but not used can help schools better understand how to improve student performance.

David Wakelyn
The Common Core Challenge
October 10, 2019

How did students at your child’s school do on Smarter Balanced tests?

Readers can access results for California’s Smarter Balanced tests taken by students in the spring in nearly 10,000 school statewide.

Diana Lambert
Commentary
September 19, 2019

California needs time to get ethnic studies curriculum right

The debate over whether ethnic studies is an appropriate and valuable course for high school students was settled long ago.

Linda Darling-Hammond
State Education Policy
September 16, 2019

California’s widely criticized ethnic studies plan to be revised

Critics said the original proposal was politically biased and omitted the American experiences of some ethnic and religious groups.

Diana Lambert
Commentary
September 6, 2019

Q&A with Michael Kirst: Single rating for schools ‘just too simplistic’

Former State Board of Education president says that there is strong support in California for the California School Dashboard.

Louis Freedberg
Legislation
August 23, 2019

California proposal requiring ethnic studies for diploma delayed

José Medina will bring back Assembly Bill 331 next year, after there has been time to redraft the controversial ethnic studies curriculum.

John Fensterwald
Math and Science
July 23, 2019

Plan to expose all students to physics missing one element — teachers

As California schools move to implement new science standards, there will be an increased demand for teachers in a subject area where there is already a severe shortage.

Diana Lambert
July 8, 2019

California may create 5th year high school graduation rate

The new rate will credit districts for helping non-graduating seniors to earn a diploma the next year. It would be combined with the 4-year grad rate on the School Dashboard.

John Fensterwald