Education

A group of students wearing safety vests and hard hats stands around a section of wall construction and rebar near a window inside a classroom.

Economy

After losing his home in the Palisades fire, he’s learning to rebuild it — literally

Los Angeles has an acute shortage of qualified construction workers as the region tries to rebuild from the Eaton and Palisades Fires. One community college is trying to help.

By Adam Echelman • April 10, 2026

A teacher stands in front of a classroom filled with students reading at their desks. The classroom is decorated with a string of lights and blue lanterns.

K-12 Education

Getting into a UC or Cal State requires these classes. Almost half of students don’t take them

Students who take these courses are more likely to go to college straight after high school. A high school in Compton is a state leader.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn and Carolyn Jones • March 27, 2026

Three young adults sit on front of a white table while looking down at their phones or paperwork. A fifth yound adult stands at the end of the table while speaking and holdinga small stack papers.

Education

Does lobbying at the Capitol work? These UC students say yes, and they’ve got receipts

Over 250 college students spent a day lobbying at the California Capitol recently, holding over 100 meetings with state leaders and their staff. The students are backing several bills aimed at increasing basic needs support, including one to streamline CalFresh applications and another to reform the process for building student housing. They also are leading the push to add more student voting power to the UC Board of Regents.

By Khadeejah Khan • March 24, 2026

A close-up view of a teenager's hand moving the dial on a steel lock on a blue locker.

K-12 Education

State finds ‘systemic’ failures in how a California school district handles sex abuse allegations

Attorney General Rob Bonta issues sweeping reforms for the El Monte Union High School District after an investigation found “systemic” failures in its handling of staff sexual misconduct allegations.

By Matt Drange • March 20, 2026

People walk past an “End Overdose” outreach table with informational materials and QR codes set up in a public plaza.

Education

This new California law will offer college students rehab before discipline for overdosing

College students who seek help for substance use after an overdose face disciplinary action by their campus. A new California law, written in part by students themselves, will require public universities to offer rehabilitation services to students rather than discipline.

By Alina Ta • March 19, 2026

Five students stand outside the gate doors of an elementary school during a sunny day. Four of the students wear red shirts and two hold picket signs of a red flag with black eagle emblem.

K-12 Education

Schools move to minimize Chavez’s role in civil rights movement: ‘We stand with survivors of violence’

The state will be updating its history and social studies curriculum. Students typically learn about Chávez in fourth, ninth and eleventh grade.

By Carolyn Jones • March 19, 2026

Small bottles of a product labeled “feel free,” advertised for mood lift, energy, and focus, are displayed for sale inside a convenience store. A sign indicates the product costs $8.99 and must be purchased by customers age 21 or older.

Education

Once given out at USC, this banned, opioid-like product is still cropping up in California

A drinkable product called Feel Free was once marketed to USC students as a wellness tonic. It contains an addictive, opioid-like ingredient called kratom leaf, now banned for sale by the California Department of Public Health but still available in many stores. A new bill in the Legislature would make the ban permanent in California.

By Phoebe Huss • March 17, 2026

A close-up view of a person's hands near the keyboard of a laptop. The person wears a denim jacket and holds a pen in between their right index and middle finger.

Higher Education

Lawmakers tried to kill California’s online community college. Now it’s growing rapidly

Calbright College, the state’s free online community college, is growing rapidly, despite concerns about its effectiveness. Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes tripling its annual budget.

By Adam Echelman • March 16, 2026

A teacher walks across a classroom while students sit at their desks working on an assignment.

K-12 Education

California teachers ‘tread lightly’ for America’s 250th as they navigate competing narratives

California is strengthening civics education as America marks its 250th birthday. Teachers have to navigate a polarized political environment as they guide lessons on the Constitution.

By Carolyn Jones • March 11, 2026

An illustration in green, red, blue and yellow tones that shows a desktop computer screen with an open window tab that resembles a Pokemon battle scene. At one end of the screen is a pixelated student and at the other is a wolf that represents a chatbot. The illustration includes a bubble text that reads "where can students get free food on campus?" alongside other bubbles of text with red exclamation points.

College Beat

California colleges spend millions on faulty AI systems: ‘The chatbot is outdated’

Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

By Martin Romero • March 6, 2026