Education

Nearly $2 billion in broadband funding is at stake in the next 30 days, but advocacy groups say the challenge process is designed to fail.

Small and low-income school officials say the bond measure deal is unfair. The money is allocated through matching grants, so wealthier districts that can raise more local funds will get more money from the state.

The money will pay for repairs and upgrades at thousands of K-12 school and community college buildings.

Five college graduates reflect on their unique college experience and look forward to their early career plans.

The California Student Aid Commission conducted focus groups and found emotional messages connected well with students and parents. They then said they were more likely to apply for financial aid.

The agreement between the state and the ACLU requires state authorities to visit schools, interview teachers, look at individual students’ records and take more hands-on steps to see if a school has a pattern of discriminating.

Counties with large areas of public land get federal funding that many rural schools rely on. The most recent round of payments in May – $33.7 million for California – will be the last unless Congress votes to extend the program.

The measure’s author said it would compete with other priorities this year, including an effort to fend off a proposed constitutional amendment to punish retail thieves and another to restrict forced labor in prisons. He wants to propose it for a future election season.

Gov. Newsom’s latest budget proposal cuts the Middle Class Scholarship to $100 million. The Legislature wants to provide more than $900 million for it.

Panelists discuss the importance of acknowledging and apologizing for California’s racist policies during CalMatters’ Ideas Festival.