covid-19

A teacher, wearing a pink shirt and brown khaki pants, stands in between rows of students sitting at their desk inside a classroom.

Commentary

Don’t blame California’s teachers for inflated grades. Look at school officials

UC-San Diego reports declines in freshman math skills despite rising grades in K-12 schools. Teachers say they're pressured to inflate grades.

By Glenn Sacks • January 16, 2026

The offices of the Employment Development Department in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Politics

California unemployment agency paid $4.6 million in monthly fees for unused cellphones

California's unemployment department bought more cellphones than it needed for remote work during the COVID pandemic and kept paying for thousands of unused lines.

By

Adam Ashton

• December 12, 2025

Health

California releases its own vaccine recommendations as RFK shifts federal policy

Leading medical organizations informed the state's new guidelines, announced as part of a western states alliance. A new law requires insurers to cover vaccines for most Californians.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

and

Kristen Hwang

• September 17, 2025

Three students sit at a dining table inside a home while they look at laptops in front of them. One student, with dark hair, can be seen staring at their laptop while their right arm rest on their right cheek.

K-12 Education

These parents sued LA Unified over remote learning. How the settlement will benefit students

The settlement affects about 250,000 students, who will get access to one-on-one tutoring and other services.

By

Carolyn Jones

• September 3, 2025

A blue jacket labeled “CDC PRISONER” in large yellow letters is draped over the back of a folding chair in a dimly lit gymnasium. Rows of empty and occupied chairs are visible, suggesting a group event or meeting in a correctional facility.

Justice

California released 15,000 prisoners early during COVID. New data reveals what happened to many of them

Records obtained and analyzed by CalMatters offer the first glimpse into what happened to some of the former prisoners after state leaders chose to shrink a prison population imperiled by the pandemic.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• May 13, 2025

Painted letters and numbers on the asphalt of a school as the feet and shadows of young children can be seen in the background.

K-12 Education

Trump canceled millions in California school grants. The state is suing to reclaim the money

Schools had until March 2026 to spend remaining COVID relief money. The U.S. Department of Education cut those funds, amounting to about $200 million for California K-12 schools.

By

Carolyn Jones

• April 10, 2025

A row of blue pop-up tents with pallets of boxes and a group of workers wearing yellow safety vests walking around. The side of the tent has white text that says, “WWW.SACRAMENTOFOODBANK.COM.”

Politics

California food banks brace for funding cuts, and not only from the Trump administration

Food aid is one of numerous competing priorities California lawmakers will have to juggle in the face of steep potential federal cuts.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• March 27, 2025

State test results show California students overall performed much worse in math and English language arts than pre-pandemic, but a persistent achievement gap didn't worsen, as initially feared. Students at a classroom at St. HOPE’s Public School 7 Elementary in Sacramento on May 11, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

How California can fix its school crisis. Two projects point the way

Three years of expert, hands-on help pulled up two schools' test scores. The rest of the state's average scores remain below pre-pandemic levels.

By

Dan Walters

• December 12, 2024

A person stands on stage at a podium with microphones next to a row of American flags.

Health

RFK Jr. was on the losing side of California vaccine fights. Now, Trump wants him in his cabinet

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a key figure in protests over California vaccine laws. He could set U.S. health policy in the Trump administration.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• November 25, 2024

LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin helps students on the first day back at school for LAUSD students following the COVID-19 remote school period in Los Angeles on Aug. 16, 2021. Photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Education

Trump-appointed judges revive lawsuit against L.A. schools’ COVID vaccine mandate

Courts recently have tossed lawsuits challenging expired COVID-19 rules. A panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals restored a case against the Los Angeles Unified School District, allowing employees to sue to prevent future vaccine mandates.

By

Carolyn Jones

• June 7, 2024

Covid-19