February 19, 2019

Report: California's school funding flaws make it difficult for districts to meet teacher demands

As Oakland teachers prepare for a strike, a state arbitrator points to a range of factors, such as basing state funding on attendance rather than enrollments, a disproportionate concentration of charter schools in urban districts, and high special education and pension costs as potential stumbling blocks to reaching an agreement not only in Oakland but in other districts experiencing labor turmoil.

Louis Freedberg

February 18, 2019

California students may not be ready for new science test

Although students will begin taking the California Science Test in March, most school districts have yet to approve textbooks or materials aligned to the new standards adopted six years ago by the State Board of Education. Still, federal law is requiring California to begin testing this year.

Diana Lambert

February 12, 2019

Gov. Newsom names new head of State Board of Education in California

Choice of Linda Darling-Hammond sends the message that Newsom is seeking continuity on the state board.

Louis Freedberg

February 10, 2019

Kamala Harris’s stance on truancy resurfaces as she launches presidential campaign

A 2010 video clip of California senator and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris advocating the prosecution of parents for their children's truancy has re-ignited controversy as schools statewide face greater scrutiny for their rates of chronic absenteeism.

David Washburn

February 6, 2019

Gov. Newsom and his school spending ideas are popular with Californians, poll finds

Forty-four percent of adults approved of the way Newsom is handling his new job, 23 percent disapproved. Newsom’s support was strongest in his home San Francisco Bay area (52 percent),lowest in the Inland Empire (36 percent).

Larry Gordon

February 6, 2019

California quietly publishes list of 781 lowest-performing schools

Convinced that stigmatizing “bad schools” and dictating improvements didn't work, state officials are counting on district-led solutions to low achievement.

John Fensterwald

February 5, 2019

Gov. Newsom asks to review impact of California charter schools on district finances

United Teachers of Los Angeles questions the need for the panel, and says an "immediate cap" on charter schools is "urgently necessary."

Louis Freedberg And Mikhail Zinshteyn

February 4, 2019

Gun violence in schools and college affordability highest priorities for California voters, poll finds

Voters polled view early childhood programs as important but don't rank them as top priorities and are lukewarm about spending more for them.

John Fensterwald

January 31, 2019

Chronic absenteeism in California schools up slightly, new data show

More than 1 in 10 students statewide were chronically absent from school in 2017-18. Rates for students in marginalized groups much higher than the state average.

David Washburn

January 30, 2019

Gov. Newsom assembles team in Sacramento to focus on his 'cradle to career' agenda

Appointments tilt to the impact of early childhood, including naming California's first surgeon general, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.

Louis Freedberg

January 29, 2019

Spate of lawsuits challenge teachers’ and other unions’ dues collections

The California Teachers Association and other public employee unions have turned to dues contracts to sustain membership revenues that the U.S. Supreme Court put jeopardy in the Janus decision. Now there's a new round of lawsuits.

John Fensterwald

January 29, 2019

Quality must be at the heart of expanding early childhood education in California

While access has to early childhood education has improved, quality still varies across the state.

Meera Mani

January 28, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris calls for universal preschool and 'debt free' college education

The former California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney also touches on gun violence in schools and law enforcement practices that could have fatal consequences for young people.

Louis Freedberg

January 23, 2019

Building a system of support for California students — from the ground up

Partnerships and collaboration are key to achieving school improvement goals.

Tom Armelino

January 22, 2019

Los Angeles teachers return to class after voting to end strike

Left unclear is precisely how the dozens of provisions agreed to would be paid for.

Louis Freedberg