May 5, 2021

Over half of California public school students remain in distance learning

An EdSource analysis found far fewer low-income students have returned for in-person instruction and large variations by region.

Daniel J. Willis And John Fensterwald

April 28, 2021

California teachers, school staff receive bumps in pay as campuses reopen

Districts signed agreements before reopening campuses that included everything from retroactive raises and bonuses to ongoing salary increases.

Diana Lambert

February 23, 2021

Rising tensions, heated words add pressure to reach a deal soon on reopening California schools

Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Phil Ting says school districts’ criticism of a proposed deal shows they want money but no accountability.

John Fensterwald

January 29, 2021

California teachers union wants schools in ‘purple’ counties to stay closed for 100 days; vaccinations for staff

The teachers union wants most California schools to remain closed for 100 days while the state comes up with a plan to slow the spread of the virus and vaccinate school staff.

Diana Lambert

January 27, 2021

With Gov. Newsom's back-to-school plan all but doomed, what might it take to salvage it?

The Feb.1 deadline for the plan soon will pass; talks continue over complaints the plan’s requirements and timeline were unworkable.

John Fensterwald

January 13, 2021

To help get kids back in school, California should temporarily suspend local collective bargaining

Gov. Newsom should sit down with union leaders to negotiate a safe statewide reopening of all public schools for in-person instruction.

Carl Cohn

January 12, 2021

Big district superintendents, Newsom advisers remain at odds on back to school plan

After meeting with the governor’s aides, Los Angeles and Fresno superintendents say they won’t apply for incentives to reopen campuses.

John Fensterwald

December 22, 2020

Teachers and school staff in California increasingly likely to get vaccine in next round

State and federal health officials say prioritizing teachers and school staff will allow schools to reopen sooner for in-person instruction.

Diana Lambert

October 22, 2020

Length of live teaching varies in California even in the same grade level and same district

Some parents and researchers want longer class periods for their kids in distance learning, while others worry about excessive screen time and ineffective use of learning time.

Sydney Johnson

August 26, 2020

California issues rules for opening schools to high-needs students

Special education, homeless and foster students are priority groups that can return in separate cohorts with up to 14 children and two adults.

John Fensterwald

August 14, 2020

California schools allowed to open for small groups with ’acute’ needs under new guidance

Forthcoming guidance permitting limited openings will apply to districts in counties on the coronavirus watch list, where schools are shut down.

John Fensterwald

August 11, 2020

Some California districts, teachers struggle to agree on distance learning

The Legislature set minimum hours but left it to districts and unions to define instruction, engagement and set the length of a school day.

John Fensterwald

July 31, 2020

Oakland Unified lacks agreements with teachers and other staff as Aug. 10 school start looms

After bargaining for three weeks, teachers’ union and district disagree on how to provide distance learning and when to reopen campuses safely.

Theresa Harrington

June 23, 2020

In California budget deal, no cuts for K-12 but billions in late payments to schools

Under the agreement, teachers and some – but not all – of other school employees would be protected from layoffs for the year.

John Fensterwald

May 22, 2020

California districts could pursue teacher layoffs if new state budget cuts K-12 funding

School districts can do a second round of layoffs if K-12 funding increases less than 2%. CTA will ask the Legislature to prevent it.

John Fensterwald