Education

California exempts many undocumented students from paying non-resident tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities. But gaps in the law mean that some undocumented students and visa holders still don’t get exemptions — even if they’ve lived in the state for more than a decade. Two bills pending in the state Legislature would make it easier to qualify.

Student activists say SB 886 would fast-track campus housing projects, which can get tangled in lawsuits. But critics say the bill doesn't solve the core problem: a lack of funding for affordable student housing.

Schools already struggling with teacher shortages reached a crisis point during the omicron surge, particularly those with high percentages of high-needs students. With substitute teachers in scarce supply and school officials worried about future staffing, one lawmaker is proposing solutions.

They can’t afford to take off their masks: Immunocompromised students and campus staff are highly susceptible to COVID-19, and with mask mandates dropping, some believe their schools don’t value their safety.

Last school year, growing districts weren’t funded for all their students. Their leaders say they’ve been hurt by efforts to protect the majority of the state’s districts experiencing declining enrollment.

A state fund for part-time faculty health insurance hasn’t been increased for decades. Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed adding $200 million. New data suggests that might solve the problem of part-time faculty having to go without health insurance in some cases.

California’s community college enrollment plummeted during the pandemic. Here are the stories of some of the students who left.

Roughly 360,000 UC and Cal State students may soon receive about $1,000 to $3,000 to fund their educations this fall as part of California’s effort to make college debt-free. Another form of aid to help more community college students has a less clear path.

The state mandates transitional kindergarten, but isn’t paying the tab for a small portion of wealthy school districts. Some are balking.

According to new data from the California Department of Education, enrollment continues to drop at faster rates than before the pandemic.