Vanessa Rancano, KQED

When students of color have teachers of color, they learn more, finish high school at higher rates, and are more likely to go to college. But the number of teachers of color in California isn’t keeping pace with the diversity of its student body.

Cal State LA’s Prison Graduation Initiative is the state’s only public bachelor’s degree program that sends professors to teach behind bars. Advocates hope the political winds have shifted enough to bring public dollars back to prison education.

A unique program that enrolls kids in juvenile detention in college classes could become a statewide model.

Some residents, saying Bethel Church's civic influence threatens the city's integrity, hand out "Don't drink the Kool-Aid" stickers.

Inaccurate cost of attendance estimates can throw off students’ budgeting and their financial aid packages.

Attending a university in California can be a financial burden beyond the means of many college hopefuls. Rising tuition is compounded by the lack of affordable housing in the state and the high cost of living.

Thousands of qualified college hopefuls will be rejected from a UC or CSU — and may never come back to California.