education

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

A person using a computer. Photo by Yui Mok, PA via AP Images

Commentary

AI reminded me to lead in my classroom, not follow someone else’s dictates

This change isn’t just about technology. It’s about whether teachers reclaim their role as designers of learning or wait to be told what to do next.

By Al Rabanera • March 25, 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

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

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

A person, with long brunette hair and wearing reading glasses, sits on the corner edge of wooden steps inside a building.

Higher Education

How one Cal State campus is trying to break out of a doom loop of declining enrollment

Several Cal State campuses are caught in a spiral of declining enrollment, threatening their budgets and programs. One in LA is focused on retention and re-enrolling students who dropped out.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• March 4, 2026

A person speaks into a bullhorn while standing in the middle of a crowd that chants and holds up signs.

K-12 Education

‘Shocking’: What Supreme Court ruling on transgender policy means for California students

The court blocked California’s policy barring school districts from requiring teachers to “out” transgender students to their parents, unless the students gave permission.

By

Carolyn Jones

• March 4, 2026

A football player in a red jersey leaps with arms fully extended to catch a pass while a defender in a white uniform runs toward them on a field, with sideline figures blurred in the background.

Technology

To attend prom or a football game, California students first had to surrender their data

The state’s privacy protection agency is fining PlayOn $1.1 million for violating state law. The company, which operates the ticketing service GoFan, required students and parents to share their data to access tickets for high school events.

By

Adam Echelman

• March 3, 2026