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Policy & Finance
Topic

State Education Policy

The coronavirus pandemic has upended education in California, shifting the focus from a series of major reforms initiated by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013 that changed how funding was allocated to schools and the accountability systems for schools and districts. Nonetheless, efforts to make California’s systems of education more equitable from cradle to career, continue.

In this section, you will find articles about the legislation and policies that affect California’s public schools and universities.

Commentary
May 25, 2022

Schools should avail of state funding to serve more freshly prepared and locally grown food

California districts are leading the way in offering fresh, healthy school meals for all students.

Brandy Dreibelbis
Commentary
May 19, 2022

A comprehensive reading plan is the only way to address our early literacy crisis

The failure to teach California’s three million low-income students to be effective readers is the ultimate existential threat.

Todd Collins
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
Commentary
May 12, 2022

Computer Science is everywhere in our world but almost nowhere in California schools

The governor and the Legislature should use the state budget to finally invest in the computer science teachers who are guiding California’s students.

Allison Scott, Art Lopez and Susan Bonilla
Commentary
May 12, 2022

The bus stops here: Time to fund transportation for all California students

California ranks last in the nation in the proportion of children receiving transportation from their schools. Districts would readily expand busing if the state fully covered the cost.

Christopher Schiermeyer and Mark Becker
Class of 2022
May 4, 2022

Class of 2022

For the first time in two decades, California’s K-12 enrollment dropped under 6 million students, a sure sign that many students did not return after the pandemic. But within the state, there was movement: sharp enrollment declines in coastal counties and sharp increases inland. This reporting series from EdSource looks at the changes and trends in California public school enrollment.

EdSource staff
Commentary
May 3, 2022

How to address the teacher shortage before the well runs dry

State and federal legislators must enact measures to alleviate the conditions causing California teachers to quit. The public must demand action before we can't even keep our schools open.

Cassandra R. Henderson
California's Enrollment Rollercoaster
May 2, 2022

Growing suburban Sacramento school districts spared state's declining enrollment

New housing construction in suburbs around Sacramento have saved some school districts in the region from the belt-tightening that comes with declining student enrollment. 

Diana Lambert
California's Enrollment Rollercoaster
April 25, 2022

A new chapter for charter schools in California as enrollment drops for first time in 3 decades

With California charter school enrollment declining for the first time in three decades, operators and funders look to new areas of the state for future growth.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
April 22, 2022

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond on path to reelection

After two contentious and expensive elections in 2014 and 2018, this year's race for California state superintendent of public instruction seems to be generating far less interest.

Louis Freedberg
California's Enrollment Rollercoaster
April 21, 2022

California's Enrollment Rollercoaster

For the first time in two decades, California’s K-12 enrollment dropped under 6 million students, a sure sign that many students did not return after the pandemic. But within the state, there was movement: sharp enrollment declines in coastal counties and sharp increases inland. This reporting series from EdSource looks at the changes and trends in California public school enrollment.

EdSource staff
Commentary
April 19, 2022

Digital equity must remain a priority as California schools get back to normal

There is a growing gap between communities that have access to the internet and computers and those that do not. It's time to fix that in California.

Ana Ponce
Commentary
April 18, 2022

California's math framework lacks sound research evidence to justify its progressive agenda

California's newly revised framework relies too heavily on unproven theories about how to teach mathematics.

Ze’ev Wurman and Williamson M. Evers
State Education Policy
April 15, 2022

Mental health hotline numbers would appear on California college student ID cards if bill passes

Student-written bills aim to boost California college students' wellness and civic engagement.

Carolyn Jones
California's Enrollment Rollercoaster
April 11, 2022

California K-12 enrollment plunges again, falls below 6 million

Led by continued hemorrhaging of student enrollment in Los Angeles County and parts of the Bay Area, total public school enrollment in California dropped by 110,000 this year, the second year of big losses.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis