Ricardo Cano

Education

Disaster Days: How megafires, guns and other 21st century crises are disrupting California schools

From climate-driven natural disasters to crumbling infrastructure and threats of mass shootings, modern dangers are sending California kids home from class in record numbers. The trend is only beginning to show up on lawmakers' radar.

By Ricardo Cano • September 16, 2019

K-12 Education

Charter schools, unions call a truce in an epic battle as Newsom brokers a deal

A long, deep-pocketed fight over California's public school system appears to have reached a detente, with stricter credentialing for charter school teachers, rules that make it easier for districts to reject new charter campuses and a 2-year moratorium on new online charter schools.

By Ricardo Cano • August 28, 2019

Education

Needy school districts are getting more money — but what about needy kids?

Financially, at least, California's 5-year-old school finance overhaul is working for disadvantaged students. But a PPIC study still finds that high-need schools are still too reliant on novice teachers. And in better-off districts, not enough is being done for poorer kids.

By Ricardo Cano • August 7, 2019

K-12 Education

With early childhood education on CA’s agenda, preschool teachers ask why ‘cashiers at McDonalds’ get better pay

Gov. Gavin Newsom has ambitious plans to improve California's early childhood education, but experts say he's forgetting a key: preschool teacher salaries.

By Ricardo Cano • July 19, 2019

K-12 Education

Teacher credentials come in for tough grading as CA rethinks charter school rules

Heather Williams knew as a kid that she wanted to be a piano teacher. She earned her music degree with a piano emphasis from Brigham Young University and spent decades honing her craft. Today she not only runs her own academy near Sacramento, offering private lessons with a special certification in the Suzuki Method of […]

By Ricardo Cano • July 8, 2019

Capitol

Charter school task force echoes calls for tighter charter school regs, more local control

A closely watched report commissioned by Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for more local discretion and tighter regulation of charter schools.

By Ricardo Cano • June 7, 2019

Capitol

Charter school curbs pass Assembly, but drama foretells compromise

A major bill to curb the growth of charter schools in California was narrowly approved in the Assembly Tuesday, but compromise appeared likely as moderates who let it proceed to the Senate called for a less hard line.

By Ricardo Cano • May 22, 2019

Capitol

California schools haven’t fully embraced laws protecting LGBTQ kids, study shows

In the past decade, California has adopted more than a half-dozen laws intended to prevent bullying, strengthen suicide prevention and cultivate inclusive learning environments for LGBTQ students in the state’s public schools. But the state’ school districts are implementing these new laws inconsistently, according to a new sweeping report-card style analysis from the Equality California […]

By Ricardo Cano • May 13, 2019

Capitol

Universal preschool bills advance, and it’s more than just baby steps

Legislation that would significantly expand California’s subsidized preschool program cleared its first committee hearing Wednesday, leaving early childhood education advocates increasingly optimistic that at least the first phase of their long-sought effort will cross the finish line this year. For years, pressure has mounted at the Capitol to increase access to preschool for the state’s […]

By Ricardo Cano • April 24, 2019

Education

California opinions on charter schools are divided—and more complex than portrayed

California voters are just as divided as their elected officials on the charter school issue, and maybe more so, a new PPIC survey on education shows.

By Ricardo Cano • April 24, 2019

Ricardo Cano

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